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Longing
Sian Jones had been to Britain's finest schools, but manners and French lessons did not erase the stigma of being a lord's illegitimate daughter. Perhaps she would have been content among Welsh ironworkers, her mother's people, had not Alexander, Marquess of Craille, arrived to run the mine he inherited.
When the widowed Alexander came to live with his small daughter in turreted Glanrhyd Castle, the Welsh poverty shocked him. But a greater jolt came from meeting Sian and the kiss he took before she could draw away. He asked her to be his daughter's governess. But neither pretended that was all he wanted. Even if Sian fought the desire between them, she could not stop the love that was drawing them together... or the passions that ignited beyond denial....
When the widowed Alexander came to live with his small daughter in turreted Glanrhyd Castle, the Welsh poverty shocked him. But a greater jolt came from meeting Sian and the kiss he took before she could draw away. He asked her to be his daughter's governess. But neither pretended that was all he wanted. Even if Sian fought the desire between them, she could not stop the love that was drawing them together... or the passions that ignited beyond denial....
377 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1994
300 people are currently reading
1254 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
193 books6,413 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 243 reviews
September 8, 2021
(Social divide, single father, love triangle, widow heroine, widower hero, governess, plot around political and social unrest)
I was a bit skeptical before starting this book because even though I love reading Mary Balogh, , whatever I have read so far from her is released after the 2000s and this one is from 1994. I know it should not be a big deal but we all know older historical romances(the late 80s to early 90s) do not always suit our modern sensibilities or in short, they have a lot of problematic content.
Still, this book is based in Wales, so I thought it would be fun to see how she has portrayed her homeland. And, also because it revolves around the historical events of the Newgate rising and the Charter of 1839, Britain.
The plot
Alexander is an English Marquess who had been an absentee owner of a coal mine in the valley of Cwmbran, Wales. He comes to the valley for a reprieve from London gossip but was shocked to see that the condition of the people is dire and everyone is preparing to participate in the Charter.
Alexander
Alexander is a single father. He is sympathetic to the locals but his inability to understand them and the politics of the valley is a major deterrent for him in bringing any reforms. Like most of Balogh's heroes, he is beta with occasional shades of an alpha hero. His character shows growth throughout the book. From an absentee owner to a bystander to an active participant in the issues of the locals.
Sian
Sian was an illegitimate daughter of an English Coal mine owner in the valley. Her father educated her in an English school but after her mother's death and Sian's refusal to marry the guy of his father's choosing, she is back to the valley. She has a strong sense of not belonging to either the English or the Welsh. She could never be fully local because of her rich father and could never be part of the owner's community because of her mother. This sense of longing had affected most of her decisions or indecisions.She is not very strong like other Balogh's heroines but I feel in doing so, the author has rightly depicted the historical time and Welsh culture.
Romance(The love triangle)
When the romance started as insta from the hero side and he tried kissing the heroine, I groaned because this is not Balogh.
And, Sian is a widow and again engaged to Owen. She is confused between these two men. She starts falling in love with Alex, halfway in the book but the social divide can only allow her to be his mistress and not the wife and because she wanted to belong to the local people she continued seeing Owen.
"I loved him. I love you. The many faces of love. The many faces of pain".
Her inability to make decisions was frustrating but I stick around for the plot and HEA.
How Mary Balogh's writing has changed with time-
1. We all know her writing has bare minimal sex scenes, just a bit better than close door romances/Christian romances. But, here I can count more than 10 and with lots of descriptive sex too. Even the villain gets a lot of scenes, where the consent is dub-con.
2. The books are still well researched and give you the feel of the time and the writing is the same as her new books. Good to know that she was always this amazing.
3. The MCs, are more confused and a lot emotional here and prone to making stupid mistakes, not something I expect from Balogh.
4. The heroin has sex with the hero when she was still engaged to another guy, totally cheating. Not something I had seen in her later books.
Things I didn't like at all
1. Too much melodrama from the heroine. I hate confused MCs.😩😩 I can understand her motivations but there is still too much drama.
2. Lots of sexual scenes(shocking that I have to say this about a Mary Balogh book)
I feel if it was a book by another author, I would have totally discarded it after 20-30 % but the representation of Welsh culture, political unrest, and the character development of the hero kept me interested in this 500-page long book. Again, it's not an easy read, it's more literary and the discussions around unions and strikes gave me the feeling of 'North and South. It also has lots of angst and objectionable content in the form of treatment towards women, but still, I love the author's writing style and would continue to do so BUT I will like to stick with her newer(released after 2000) books in the future.
I was a bit skeptical before starting this book because even though I love reading Mary Balogh, , whatever I have read so far from her is released after the 2000s and this one is from 1994. I know it should not be a big deal but we all know older historical romances(the late 80s to early 90s) do not always suit our modern sensibilities or in short, they have a lot of problematic content.
Still, this book is based in Wales, so I thought it would be fun to see how she has portrayed her homeland. And, also because it revolves around the historical events of the Newgate rising and the Charter of 1839, Britain.
The plot
Alexander is an English Marquess who had been an absentee owner of a coal mine in the valley of Cwmbran, Wales. He comes to the valley for a reprieve from London gossip but was shocked to see that the condition of the people is dire and everyone is preparing to participate in the Charter.
Alexander
Alexander is a single father. He is sympathetic to the locals but his inability to understand them and the politics of the valley is a major deterrent for him in bringing any reforms. Like most of Balogh's heroes, he is beta with occasional shades of an alpha hero. His character shows growth throughout the book. From an absentee owner to a bystander to an active participant in the issues of the locals.
Sian
Sian was an illegitimate daughter of an English Coal mine owner in the valley. Her father educated her in an English school but after her mother's death and Sian's refusal to marry the guy of his father's choosing, she is back to the valley. She has a strong sense of not belonging to either the English or the Welsh. She could never be fully local because of her rich father and could never be part of the owner's community because of her mother. This sense of longing had affected most of her decisions or indecisions.She is not very strong like other Balogh's heroines but I feel in doing so, the author has rightly depicted the historical time and Welsh culture.
Romance(The love triangle)
When the romance started as insta from the hero side and he tried kissing the heroine, I groaned because this is not Balogh.
And, Sian is a widow and again engaged to Owen. She is confused between these two men. She starts falling in love with Alex, halfway in the book but the social divide can only allow her to be his mistress and not the wife and because she wanted to belong to the local people she continued seeing Owen.
"I loved him. I love you. The many faces of love. The many faces of pain".
Her inability to make decisions was frustrating but I stick around for the plot and HEA.
How Mary Balogh's writing has changed with time-
1. We all know her writing has bare minimal sex scenes, just a bit better than close door romances/Christian romances. But, here I can count more than 10 and with lots of descriptive sex too. Even the villain gets a lot of scenes, where the consent is dub-con.
2. The books are still well researched and give you the feel of the time and the writing is the same as her new books. Good to know that she was always this amazing.
3. The MCs, are more confused and a lot emotional here and prone to making stupid mistakes, not something I expect from Balogh.
4. The heroin has sex with the hero when she was still engaged to another guy, totally cheating. Not something I had seen in her later books.
Things I didn't like at all
1. Too much melodrama from the heroine. I hate confused MCs.😩😩 I can understand her motivations but there is still too much drama.
2. Lots of sexual scenes(shocking that I have to say this about a Mary Balogh book)
I feel if it was a book by another author, I would have totally discarded it after 20-30 % but the representation of Welsh culture, political unrest, and the character development of the hero kept me interested in this 500-page long book. Again, it's not an easy read, it's more literary and the discussions around unions and strikes gave me the feeling of 'North and South. It also has lots of angst and objectionable content in the form of treatment towards women, but still, I love the author's writing style and would continue to do so BUT I will like to stick with her newer(released after 2000) books in the future.
July 24, 2020
This book made me feel. It made me feel rather unhappy, and incredibly stressed through most of it, it had a lovely hopeful upward trend towards the end and it was a great story, more about a town and a community than a couple.
You become, for better or worse (usually worse) quite absorbed in their tribulations.
For all that it really lowered my mood, I could not put it down and it stole my entire Sunday, originally meant though it was for brief diversion read. Honestly though I am now in dire need of something cheerful.
Dire need.
You become, for better or worse (usually worse) quite absorbed in their tribulations.
For all that it really lowered my mood, I could not put it down and it stole my entire Sunday, originally meant though it was for brief diversion read. Honestly though I am now in dire need of something cheerful.
Dire need.
December 3, 2021
5 passionate stars
My new MB favorite (I say this about every MB novel I read, I know), though it wasn’t an easy or even entirely enjoyable read.
When one sets a cross-class romance between an English marquess and an illegitimate Welshwoman against the backdrop of tumultuous social upheavals in 1840’s Wales, the story itself is bound stray far away from the starchy Regency romances this author is known for.
Balogh wholeheartedly commits to bringing the reality of what it meant to belong to the working class in the 19th century through the inhabitants of Cwmbran.
I found myself both charmed by their passionate spirit and grossed out by the misogynistic views upheld many of them upheld.
The actual historical events featured in the novel have been flawlessly researched by the author and are blended seamlessly and realistically into the narrative, with a believable escalation of tension leading up to them.
As far as the actual romance is concerned, I think Mary Balogh has truly outdone herself in terms of creating two people that are desperately attracted to each other for all the reasons why society forbids them to share a life together. And making them sweat and crawl and risk it all to reach their HEA.
Cross-class and lord-governess romances are some of my favorite HR sub-genres out there, but I struggle to find any that are realistically portrayed and in which the social divide between the MCs isn’t magically vanquished by the power of their love.
This isn’t the case with Alexander and Siân, whose dynamic starts out as inimical and lusty, with both of them highly conscientious of the enormous social divide separating them. Slowly but inexorably, they get under each other’s skin, and the ‘mere’ attraction they feel for each other turns into an all-consuming need to share every moment of their lives together. The love and admiration they feel for each other oozes off every page of this book.
What I truly appreciated about the way their relationship was depicted, was the feeling of constant uncertainty in their intentions towards one another: they’re both adults with responsibilities towards their family and their own social class, they can’t just decide to ride off together into the sunset. Their bigger than life feelings for one another were nicely balanced by inner thoughts about the impossibility of their love.
The Marquess has an ADORABLE 6 yo daughter, Verity, whose relationship with Siân is far more maternal than scholarly, and the scenes of all three of them would make even the Grinch choke up.
Creating even more tension and propelling the industrial plot forward is Siân’s fiancé, Owen, whom I absolutely despised from his first appearance to the last. As if his ‘violence is the only solution’ stance and unwarranted hatred towards Alex and his attempts to bring about social reform weren’t enough of a red flag, he also looks forward to beating the heroine once they’re married and explicitly tells her so multiple times. Siân’s relationship with him went beyond toxic, and although they never went beyond kisses, I still felt nauseous whenever he came near her. He definitely got his comeuppance though, and the only downside is that it didn’t happen sooner.
The heroine’s stubbornness did grate on my nerves a couple of times, but in the end I always prefer headstrong, proud FMCs who stand by their beliefs. This is a romance between two adult, self-aware people who take a conscious risk in being together after realising that life apart wouldn’t be a life at all. The romance felt magical and historically plausible at the same time. I can only applaud Mary Balogh’s talent in creating such a gem of a novel.
My new MB favorite (I say this about every MB novel I read, I know), though it wasn’t an easy or even entirely enjoyable read.
When one sets a cross-class romance between an English marquess and an illegitimate Welshwoman against the backdrop of tumultuous social upheavals in 1840’s Wales, the story itself is bound stray far away from the starchy Regency romances this author is known for.
Balogh wholeheartedly commits to bringing the reality of what it meant to belong to the working class in the 19th century through the inhabitants of Cwmbran.
I found myself both charmed by their passionate spirit and grossed out by the misogynistic views upheld many of them upheld.
The actual historical events featured in the novel have been flawlessly researched by the author and are blended seamlessly and realistically into the narrative, with a believable escalation of tension leading up to them.
As far as the actual romance is concerned, I think Mary Balogh has truly outdone herself in terms of creating two people that are desperately attracted to each other for all the reasons why society forbids them to share a life together. And making them sweat and crawl and risk it all to reach their HEA.
Cross-class and lord-governess romances are some of my favorite HR sub-genres out there, but I struggle to find any that are realistically portrayed and in which the social divide between the MCs isn’t magically vanquished by the power of their love.
This isn’t the case with Alexander and Siân, whose dynamic starts out as inimical and lusty, with both of them highly conscientious of the enormous social divide separating them. Slowly but inexorably, they get under each other’s skin, and the ‘mere’ attraction they feel for each other turns into an all-consuming need to share every moment of their lives together. The love and admiration they feel for each other oozes off every page of this book.
What I truly appreciated about the way their relationship was depicted, was the feeling of constant uncertainty in their intentions towards one another: they’re both adults with responsibilities towards their family and their own social class, they can’t just decide to ride off together into the sunset. Their bigger than life feelings for one another were nicely balanced by inner thoughts about the impossibility of their love.
The Marquess has an ADORABLE 6 yo daughter, Verity, whose relationship with Siân is far more maternal than scholarly, and the scenes of all three of them would make even the Grinch choke up.
Creating even more tension and propelling the industrial plot forward is Siân’s fiancé, Owen, whom I absolutely despised from his first appearance to the last. As if his ‘violence is the only solution’ stance and unwarranted hatred towards Alex and his attempts to bring about social reform weren’t enough of a red flag, he also looks forward to beating the heroine once they’re married and explicitly tells her so multiple times. Siân’s relationship with him went beyond toxic, and although they never went beyond kisses, I still felt nauseous whenever he came near her. He definitely got his comeuppance though, and the only downside is that it didn’t happen sooner.
The heroine’s stubbornness did grate on my nerves a couple of times, but in the end I always prefer headstrong, proud FMCs who stand by their beliefs. This is a romance between two adult, self-aware people who take a conscious risk in being together after realising that life apart wouldn’t be a life at all. The romance felt magical and historically plausible at the same time. I can only applaud Mary Balogh’s talent in creating such a gem of a novel.
July 7, 2024
Review from 2016
A+ for narration; A- for content.
Originally published in 1994, Mary Balogh’s Longing is a standalone novel set in the author’s Welsh homeland among the mining community of Cwmbran. The romance between the local landowner, an English marquess, and the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman and a working-class woman is set against the backdrop of the last days of the Chartist Movement, and the Newport Rising, so the novel as a whole has a strong – and fascinating – historical and political background.
Although she now lives in a small cottage with her grandparents and uncle and works in the local coal mine, Sian Jones had a lady’s upbringing owing to the fact that she is the result of a liaison between a baronet (owner of the Penybont mine and ironworks) and the daughter of a miner. Her father paid for her education at a good English school, and when she finished there, he offered her the chance to make a respectable marriage to Josiah Barnes, the manager of the Cwmbran estate and mining business. But Sian didn’t want to marry Barnes, her desire to find somewhere she could truly belong leading her instead to make her life among her mother’s people. She later fell in love with and married a young miner who was killed not long afterward, leaving her pregnant with their son who was subsequently stillborn – probably because of the onerous job Sian took in the mine following her husband’s death.
Alexander Hyatt, the Marquess of Craille is a widower with a precocious six-year old daughter. He has passed most of his life quietly on his English estates, and unexpectedly inherited Cwmbran lock, stock and barrel – the village, the surrounding land and the mine and ironworks – upon the death of his uncle. He knows nothing about industry, but he is conscientious and determined to fulfil his responsibilities to the best of his ability, and so decides it’s time for him to inspect his Welsh concerns, settling at Glanrhyd Castle with the intention of staying for a only few months. But the longer he stays, the more he finds to concern him – the situation of his workers, who are paid less than a pittance for back-breaking work, the lack of proper sanitation, the high infant mortality rate; the more he feels the pull of the land and its people; and the more deeply he falls in love with the lovely widow he has employed as his daughter’s governess.
I was utterly captivated by the story, which, although it moves fairly slowly, is so rich in terms of characterisation and detail that it never drags. Sian is an admirable heroine; she is strong, yet vulnerable, a woman who refuses to let others make decisions for her or kowtow to those who would try to bully her. She stands up for her principles, even though they lead her into life-threatening situations, but underlying her determination is a deep-seated insecurity that comes as the result of her having always been ‘between worlds’, her education taking her out of the working class, her birth meaning that she will always be looked down upon by those of the upper. Her need to belong is central to her character and sometimes causes her to make decisions which seem ill-advised but which are nonetheless perfectly understandable given that aspect of her personality.
Alexander is a wonderful hero, not just in the romantic sense, but in the way he comes to care for the people who depend on him and in his genuine desire to improve their lot in life. He’s an idealist with a strong sense of justice and commitment to change, which obviously causes problems when he comes up against the other mine owners in the area, who want to maintain both the status quo and their profits. There are times he thinks he should just give up and go home to England, but he doesn’t – he keeps going in the face of opposition because he knows it’s the right thing to do and above all, because he CAN.
“We can only do our small part, starting with who we are and what we are. Don’t blame me because I am in a position of power. It is what I do with that power that counts, surely.”
The romance between the couple takes time to get going, but is worth the wait, because it is beautifully written and developed. Cross-class romances in historicals are always difficult to pull off successfully because of the rigidity of the social conventions of the time, and I appreciated that Ms Balogh doesn’t attempt to sweep these difficulties under the carpet. There is an incredibly well-drawn cast of secondary characters and the author does a spectacular job with her evocative descriptions of the lush valleys and rolling hills of the countryside, and of the wealth of tradition that is so essential to the hearts and minds of her characters. If I have a criticism it’s that the prose – which is, for the most part, lovely – very occasionally acquires the faintest purple tint, but that is in no way a major issue.
Rosalyn Landor seems to have become the go-to narrator when it comes to Mary Balogh, and I can think of few other performers around who could have done justice to this book, both technically and artistically. Welsh accents can be difficult to do (unless you’re Welsh!) and in this story almost every character has one; but Ms Landor accurately captures the rhythms of speech and intonations typical of the Welsh lilt, applying them consistently and convincingly across the large cast without even breaking a sweat! It seems unnecessary to say that she differentiates effectively between all the characters, because she always does – her name on the cover of an audiobook is a cast-iron guarantee of an excellent all-round performance and an assurance that the listener is never going to be confused as to the age, gender or status of any given character, because they are all so well delineated. And her acting choices are always completely on the mark; there are a number of highly emotional moments in this story, and Ms Landor delivers every single time, perfectly conveying the thoughts and feelings of the characters with a high degree of subtlety and nuance, and incredible skill.
Longing is another fantastic addition to the growing number of Mary Balogh audiobooks, and I am greedy enough to want all the rest of her back catalogue – even those old Signet romances, many of which are wonderful stories – to become available to become available in due course.
A+ for narration; A- for content.
Originally published in 1994, Mary Balogh’s Longing is a standalone novel set in the author’s Welsh homeland among the mining community of Cwmbran. The romance between the local landowner, an English marquess, and the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman and a working-class woman is set against the backdrop of the last days of the Chartist Movement, and the Newport Rising, so the novel as a whole has a strong – and fascinating – historical and political background.
Although she now lives in a small cottage with her grandparents and uncle and works in the local coal mine, Sian Jones had a lady’s upbringing owing to the fact that she is the result of a liaison between a baronet (owner of the Penybont mine and ironworks) and the daughter of a miner. Her father paid for her education at a good English school, and when she finished there, he offered her the chance to make a respectable marriage to Josiah Barnes, the manager of the Cwmbran estate and mining business. But Sian didn’t want to marry Barnes, her desire to find somewhere she could truly belong leading her instead to make her life among her mother’s people. She later fell in love with and married a young miner who was killed not long afterward, leaving her pregnant with their son who was subsequently stillborn – probably because of the onerous job Sian took in the mine following her husband’s death.
Alexander Hyatt, the Marquess of Craille is a widower with a precocious six-year old daughter. He has passed most of his life quietly on his English estates, and unexpectedly inherited Cwmbran lock, stock and barrel – the village, the surrounding land and the mine and ironworks – upon the death of his uncle. He knows nothing about industry, but he is conscientious and determined to fulfil his responsibilities to the best of his ability, and so decides it’s time for him to inspect his Welsh concerns, settling at Glanrhyd Castle with the intention of staying for a only few months. But the longer he stays, the more he finds to concern him – the situation of his workers, who are paid less than a pittance for back-breaking work, the lack of proper sanitation, the high infant mortality rate; the more he feels the pull of the land and its people; and the more deeply he falls in love with the lovely widow he has employed as his daughter’s governess.
I was utterly captivated by the story, which, although it moves fairly slowly, is so rich in terms of characterisation and detail that it never drags. Sian is an admirable heroine; she is strong, yet vulnerable, a woman who refuses to let others make decisions for her or kowtow to those who would try to bully her. She stands up for her principles, even though they lead her into life-threatening situations, but underlying her determination is a deep-seated insecurity that comes as the result of her having always been ‘between worlds’, her education taking her out of the working class, her birth meaning that she will always be looked down upon by those of the upper. Her need to belong is central to her character and sometimes causes her to make decisions which seem ill-advised but which are nonetheless perfectly understandable given that aspect of her personality.
Alexander is a wonderful hero, not just in the romantic sense, but in the way he comes to care for the people who depend on him and in his genuine desire to improve their lot in life. He’s an idealist with a strong sense of justice and commitment to change, which obviously causes problems when he comes up against the other mine owners in the area, who want to maintain both the status quo and their profits. There are times he thinks he should just give up and go home to England, but he doesn’t – he keeps going in the face of opposition because he knows it’s the right thing to do and above all, because he CAN.
“We can only do our small part, starting with who we are and what we are. Don’t blame me because I am in a position of power. It is what I do with that power that counts, surely.”
The romance between the couple takes time to get going, but is worth the wait, because it is beautifully written and developed. Cross-class romances in historicals are always difficult to pull off successfully because of the rigidity of the social conventions of the time, and I appreciated that Ms Balogh doesn’t attempt to sweep these difficulties under the carpet. There is an incredibly well-drawn cast of secondary characters and the author does a spectacular job with her evocative descriptions of the lush valleys and rolling hills of the countryside, and of the wealth of tradition that is so essential to the hearts and minds of her characters. If I have a criticism it’s that the prose – which is, for the most part, lovely – very occasionally acquires the faintest purple tint, but that is in no way a major issue.
Rosalyn Landor seems to have become the go-to narrator when it comes to Mary Balogh, and I can think of few other performers around who could have done justice to this book, both technically and artistically. Welsh accents can be difficult to do (unless you’re Welsh!) and in this story almost every character has one; but Ms Landor accurately captures the rhythms of speech and intonations typical of the Welsh lilt, applying them consistently and convincingly across the large cast without even breaking a sweat! It seems unnecessary to say that she differentiates effectively between all the characters, because she always does – her name on the cover of an audiobook is a cast-iron guarantee of an excellent all-round performance and an assurance that the listener is never going to be confused as to the age, gender or status of any given character, because they are all so well delineated. And her acting choices are always completely on the mark; there are a number of highly emotional moments in this story, and Ms Landor delivers every single time, perfectly conveying the thoughts and feelings of the characters with a high degree of subtlety and nuance, and incredible skill.
Longing is another fantastic addition to the growing number of Mary Balogh audiobooks, and I am greedy enough to want all the rest of her back catalogue – even those old Signet romances, many of which are wonderful stories – to become available to become available in due course.
September 24, 2022
4.5 stars. I barely have words for how much this book made me feel. The angst became almost painful at times, I cried throughout quite a lot of the story. But, I have never before enjoyed a love triangle quite this much.
The widowed hero is a Marquess and the owner of a large piece of land in Wales. He comes to his estate with his young daughter in an effort to take a break from London society, and finds that things are not quite as good as he had been made to believe. The people in the area work in mines - owned by the hero - and endure unsafe working conditions, terrible pay, and live in abject poverty. The hero immediately wants to start making changes to better the lives of his workers, but is convinced by others that the owners can’t afford to raise wages. Instead he agrees to lower them further because of the tight budgets. As wages are dropped, discontent grows and an uprising takes hold of the town.
This book is just as much about the Welshman who live in this area, as it is about the romance. The hero is immediately attracted to the heroine when he first sees her, and as fate will have it, he soon hires her to be his daughter’s governess. However, the heroine has long been courted by a local man. She feels sure that her future lies with this other man, and really has no intentions to further her relationship with the hero. However, they keep getting pulled together and eventually get a HFN ending. And if this book needed anything, it’s an epilogue.
I could go on and on about all of positive attributes of the MCs. Both were incredibly strong, not just physically, but emotionally, and morally. Their relationship was definitely based largely on sexual attraction - but also grew and developed into more throughout the story.
There really is very little in this story that I feel I could even nitpick at. The love triangle is probably going to be what many people are the most uncomfortable with - but it was done in a way that didn’t spoil the story for me - as most love triangles do. It was pretty obvious who the heroine was going to end up with, so there wasn’t really that angst over who she would pick.
As I said before, there’s a lot of angst in this story, and I had a general feeling of sadness while reading. But the story is also beautiful and powerful. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
SWE; widowed non-virgin heroine (who actually enjoyed sex in the past! Yay!) and widowed hero who has a daughter, heroine is courted by OM and does share many passionate kisses with him, and considers sex with him several times but never goes through with it, no OW drama, no scenes with OM/OW that go beyond kissing, for sticklers of cheating - the heroine does technically cheat on OM with the hero because she is intimate with the hero before breaking things off with the OM. This didn’t bother me within the context of this story, as it probably would have in other book.
TW: Graphic violence, death, physical punishment, misogyny and sexism (reflective of the society at the time), heroine’s memories of miscarriage
The widowed hero is a Marquess and the owner of a large piece of land in Wales. He comes to his estate with his young daughter in an effort to take a break from London society, and finds that things are not quite as good as he had been made to believe. The people in the area work in mines - owned by the hero - and endure unsafe working conditions, terrible pay, and live in abject poverty. The hero immediately wants to start making changes to better the lives of his workers, but is convinced by others that the owners can’t afford to raise wages. Instead he agrees to lower them further because of the tight budgets. As wages are dropped, discontent grows and an uprising takes hold of the town.
This book is just as much about the Welshman who live in this area, as it is about the romance. The hero is immediately attracted to the heroine when he first sees her, and as fate will have it, he soon hires her to be his daughter’s governess. However, the heroine has long been courted by a local man. She feels sure that her future lies with this other man, and really has no intentions to further her relationship with the hero. However, they keep getting pulled together and eventually get a HFN ending. And if this book needed anything, it’s an epilogue.
I could go on and on about all of positive attributes of the MCs. Both were incredibly strong, not just physically, but emotionally, and morally. Their relationship was definitely based largely on sexual attraction - but also grew and developed into more throughout the story.
There really is very little in this story that I feel I could even nitpick at. The love triangle is probably going to be what many people are the most uncomfortable with - but it was done in a way that didn’t spoil the story for me - as most love triangles do. It was pretty obvious who the heroine was going to end up with, so there wasn’t really that angst over who she would pick.
As I said before, there’s a lot of angst in this story, and I had a general feeling of sadness while reading. But the story is also beautiful and powerful. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
SWE; widowed non-virgin heroine (who actually enjoyed sex in the past! Yay!) and widowed hero who has a daughter, heroine is courted by OM and does share many passionate kisses with him, and considers sex with him several times but never goes through with it, no OW drama, no scenes with OM/OW that go beyond kissing, for sticklers of cheating - the heroine does technically cheat on OM with the hero because she is intimate with the hero before breaking things off with the OM. This didn’t bother me within the context of this story, as it probably would have in other book.
TW: Graphic violence, death, physical punishment, misogyny and sexism (reflective of the society at the time), heroine’s memories of miscarriage
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2024
This is not a Mary Balogh ballrooms and carriages and corsets kind of book. There is a marquess, but he finds himself completely out of his element in a Welsh coal mine and ironworks valley visiting with his young daughter to check on the inheritance an uncle had left him two years prior. What he finds is political unrest among impoverished workers, fellow mine owners unwilling to compromise profits to improve conditions, and the love of his life, Sian. She’s illegitimate—the daughter of a local baronet and his mistress, her mother—who’s now a widow working in his mines, and a woman so far beneath him in social status the gulf is impossible to breach. Still, he cannot seem to stop thinking about her beauty, her honor, and her courage.
It is so refreshing to find a book that doesn’t ignore or downplay how very difficult a match between two people with such a wide social gap between them would be in 1839 England or Wales.
This 1991 book kept me in its pocket from beginning to end. After reading a handful of earlier Balogh books I had come to the erroneous conclusion they were to be avoided, but this is either the exception to the rule or I made an assumption based on too small a sampling. Shame on me.
It is so refreshing to find a book that doesn’t ignore or downplay how very difficult a match between two people with such a wide social gap between them would be in 1839 England or Wales.
This 1991 book kept me in its pocket from beginning to end. After reading a handful of earlier Balogh books I had come to the erroneous conclusion they were to be avoided, but this is either the exception to the rule or I made an assumption based on too small a sampling. Shame on me.
December 21, 2020
This book has a gloomy tone, with a feeling of impending doom looming all through.
And so, I felt antsy and unsettled throughout. Obviously, it doesn't have the typical Mary Balogh regency flavor. The only other book (that I've read of hers) that comes somewhat close in having a dark theme is The Secret Pearl)
But, this is a Very Engrossing book for all that.
There are lots of detailed and noteworthy reviews out there and I'll just add my two bit.
*Major spoilers*
And so, I felt antsy and unsettled throughout. Obviously, it doesn't have the typical Mary Balogh regency flavor. The only other book (that I've read of hers) that comes somewhat close in having a dark theme is The Secret Pearl)
But, this is a Very Engrossing book for all that.
There are lots of detailed and noteworthy reviews out there and I'll just add my two bit.
*Major spoilers*
July 26, 2016
Closer to 3.5 stars
" 'Hiraeth' ?" she said. "It is an old Welsh song. It touches me here." She pressed her hand to her left breast and flushed and removed the hand when she noticed his eyes followed the gesture.
"What is it about?" he asked.
" 'Hiraeth' means"-she sketched small circles with her hand for a moment-"it is difficult to translate. Longing. Yearning. It is the longing one feels for perfection, for the absolute. For God. That reaching beyond ourselves. The yearning that is never fully satisfied, except perhaps in heaven. I am not explaining it very well."
"Oh, yes, I think you are," he said. It was almost as if he had known.
Mary Balogh sets herself apart from many other historical romance writers with beautiful words for a precious moment. LONGING was originally published in 1994 but has now been reissued in both the Kindle format and as a tradeback. I chose to read the 2015 paperback at 412 pages. I am not sure if the original version was shorter in length.
The romance was unusual for several reasons. The setting took place during early Victorian times and in Wales. The heroine, Sian, was the illegitimate daughter of nobility and a member of the working class.
At the opening of the story, she was twenty-five-years old and already a widow and the mother of a stillborn child. She lived with her maternal grandparents and uncle. During that era, the earth was excavated for iron and this activity supplied the livelihood for most Welsh people. Sian had lost her baby boy while pregnant and working in the mines. Though educated, she was serious about living and working among her fellow countrymen.
Alexander Hyatt, Marquess of Craille and an Englishman, recently moved to South Wales with his six-year old daughter. A young widower, he was the owner of a large property in the area along with the ironworks and coal mine. In the short time he had been there, he had fallen in love with his new home. The problem? He found himself ignorant of his people and their constant hardships but he intended to learn.
I liked the story, my reason for 3 1/2 stars. (If you are not familiar with my rating system, please check my profile.). I liked but didn't always agree with Alexander's and Sian's logic. A reminder of this generation's class system constantly whispered in the background. I would best describe it as 'white noise' and, sometimes, I found it irritating.
Forgiveness was also a large issue for some characters; I had to suspend my disbelief several times at the ease and quickness it was done. And let's just say, 'two is company, three is a crowd'. Lastly, can I just ask everyone, is there ever a point when sexual situations are overplayed in a historical romance? I am fond of sexual scenes in certain types of romances but don't you just find that sometimes, yes, sometimes 'less is more'? Alright, alright, I will get off my soapbox.
This story had me start another tag: My Imaginary Book Club. I would recommend this story to *YOU* because I want to hear your personal pros and cons. I would thoroughly enjoy a debate because LONGING trifled with my feelings.
" 'Hiraeth' ?" she said. "It is an old Welsh song. It touches me here." She pressed her hand to her left breast and flushed and removed the hand when she noticed his eyes followed the gesture.
"What is it about?" he asked.
" 'Hiraeth' means"-she sketched small circles with her hand for a moment-"it is difficult to translate. Longing. Yearning. It is the longing one feels for perfection, for the absolute. For God. That reaching beyond ourselves. The yearning that is never fully satisfied, except perhaps in heaven. I am not explaining it very well."
"Oh, yes, I think you are," he said. It was almost as if he had known.
Mary Balogh sets herself apart from many other historical romance writers with beautiful words for a precious moment. LONGING was originally published in 1994 but has now been reissued in both the Kindle format and as a tradeback. I chose to read the 2015 paperback at 412 pages. I am not sure if the original version was shorter in length.
The romance was unusual for several reasons. The setting took place during early Victorian times and in Wales. The heroine, Sian, was the illegitimate daughter of nobility and a member of the working class.
At the opening of the story, she was twenty-five-years old and already a widow and the mother of a stillborn child. She lived with her maternal grandparents and uncle. During that era, the earth was excavated for iron and this activity supplied the livelihood for most Welsh people. Sian had lost her baby boy while pregnant and working in the mines. Though educated, she was serious about living and working among her fellow countrymen.
Alexander Hyatt, Marquess of Craille and an Englishman, recently moved to South Wales with his six-year old daughter. A young widower, he was the owner of a large property in the area along with the ironworks and coal mine. In the short time he had been there, he had fallen in love with his new home. The problem? He found himself ignorant of his people and their constant hardships but he intended to learn.
I liked the story, my reason for 3 1/2 stars. (If you are not familiar with my rating system, please check my profile.). I liked but didn't always agree with Alexander's and Sian's logic. A reminder of this generation's class system constantly whispered in the background. I would best describe it as 'white noise' and, sometimes, I found it irritating.
Forgiveness was also a large issue for some characters; I had to suspend my disbelief several times at the ease and quickness it was done. And let's just say, 'two is company, three is a crowd'. Lastly, can I just ask everyone, is there ever a point when sexual situations are overplayed in a historical romance? I am fond of sexual scenes in certain types of romances but don't you just find that sometimes, yes, sometimes 'less is more'? Alright, alright, I will get off my soapbox.
This story had me start another tag: My Imaginary Book Club. I would recommend this story to *YOU* because I want to hear your personal pros and cons. I would thoroughly enjoy a debate because LONGING trifled with my feelings.
July 23, 2010
Reviewed for THC Reviews
I usually enjoy stories that break from the norm of historical romance, and Longing is just such a book, exhibiting a number of unique qualities. The typical Victorian romance would probably be set in England amidst the backdrop of ton balls and house parties, but Longing is set in a small industrial village in Wales. Although the hero owns a large, ornate castle, very little of the action takes place there, and except for a couple of brief afternoon teas, none of the usual social trappings occur. The majority of scenes take place in the humble confines of the town of Cwmbran (Coom-bran), and better yet, the beautiful hills surrounding it. The heroine has a stunning voice and competes in a music festival, which surrounded by the loveliness of the hills, kind of reminded me of The Sound of Music. I really felt like Mary Balogh captured the allure of the land and the culture of the proud people of Wales. Longing also has a strong historical element, detailing the Chartist Movement, the first and largest organized labor movement of its kind, which was meant to bring about political and social reform particularly for the workers in mining and industry. I can see how these topics might not be very exciting to some readers, but since I've always had an interest in politics and social issues, it was rather intriguing to me. The author even included a couple of the real-life organizers of the movement as characters. I really liked how the author took a middle-of-the-road stance, showing the good and bad on both sides of the issue. Of course, there were mine owners who didn't want to give the workers basic rights and better pay for fear of loosing profits, but there were also those among the Welsh, known as Scotch Cattle, who attempted to strong-arm anyone who refused to follow their cause by terrorizing them. Overall, Longing was a very different sort of historical romance and in many ways that was a good thing.
I must say that the book was very aptly titled, because nearly everyone in the story, particularly the hero and heroine, experiences a deep longing or Hireath in the Gaelic language. Mary Balogh has a slightly different writing style than what I'm used to, almost what I might call a more literary style. There are certain elements in her prose, such as some repetition, which in other hands would probably annoy me, but Ms. Balogh's writing has a very lyrical quality to it which draws out the feelings of yearning so that the reader can palpably sense them. Admittedly though, this also gave the story a rather languid pace, when at times, I would have preferred for things to move a bit faster. I'm a big fan of love-overcomes-all stories, but this one just took a little too long to get there for me. The hero and heroine pine for each other and for the things they believe they cannot have right up until the last few pages. When taken in the proper historical context, I can't exactly fault them for waiting so long, and in the meantime their interactions were very tender and sweet. One of my favorite scenes was after the music festival when they were crossing back over the mountain and took a moment to revel in the simple, quiet pleasure of each other's company. Ms. Balogh may have a more subdued method for conveying emotion, but I found it to still be pretty powerful nonetheless.
Sian was the illegitimate daughter of an English aristocrat who had been raised in relative luxury compared to how she lives at the beginning of the story. She is cramped into one small house with her grandparents and widowed uncle, and after the death of her husband, has also braved the hardships of working in the coal mines. Sian is a woman who is caught between two worlds, not feeling like she completely belongs in either one, but striving hard to be accepted by her mother's people. Then Alex, the owner of the mine and ironworks, comes to town and shakes up her well-ordered world by offering her a position as governess to his young, vivacious daughter, which she eventually accepts because a part of her misses that easier life. Sian was a pretty stubborn lady which at times served her well by giving her incredible strength to endure extreme difficulties and stand up to those who would bully her. At other times, her obstinacy was somewhat annoying, particularly when she kept insisting to herself that she could never be a part of Alex's world and therefore belonged with another man. Overall though, I understood Sian's actions most of the time and had to admit having respect for her even when she was making choices that I probably wouldn't have.
Alexander inherited the village of Cwmbran and all it's industry from an uncle who had no heirs. Previously, Alex had lived a quiet life on a rural estate in England, and when he comes to Wales for a change of pace, he doesn't really know anything about running a mine and ironworks but is determined to learn. He is an idealist who truly believes in mercy and justice, and is very open-minded to the plight of his workers. He wants to help them better their lives, but on a much smaller, more local scale than most of the Welsh people are hoping for, so he is constantly running up against stubborn opposition to his ideas, both from them and from other mine owners in neighboring valleys. Alex also takes his responsibility to his workers very seriously with the obligation weighing quite heavily on his shoulders. I really admired his commitment to social justice and change and his determination to keep going even though he sometimes felt like it would be easier and everyone would be happier if he just went back to England. Alex was a very sensitive, gentle man especially with Sian and his daughter, Verity. He was much more of a beta hero, in my opinion, although he did have a bit of an alpha protective streak, but was very controlled in meting out punishment. He was also a fabulous hands-on father. The only thing that bothered me slightly about Alex was that he offered more than once to make Sian his mistress, but I thought the author did a good job of showing that he was merely a product of the era and social station into which he was born. It was abundantly clear that he loved Sian to distraction, and I do believe that if it wasn't for the social strictures of the time, he would have had her down the aisle in a heartbeat. Overall, Alex was a very appealing hero, and I'm not sure I could have resisted the way Sian did even when he was only offering for her to be his mistress.
The main thing in this story that wasn't really my cup of tea was the unexpected love triangle between Alex, Sian and Owen, a Welsh ironworker who had been courting Sian for a while before Alex came to town. I'm simply not fond of love triangles in general, but this was something of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I felt that the scenes with Sian and Owen at the beginning took away time that she could have been spending with Alex, and I also felt that Sian was perhaps giving up a little too easily by accepting second best. On the other hand though, I grudgingly concede that it did add a lot to the conflict and the sense of “longing.” This whole part of the story was very complex with Owen not being quite what he seems in the beginning, but also never quite being the villain either in spite of him doing some pretty bad things with which I strongly disagreed. This being the case, my feelings surrounding the love triangle element were pretty complex as well. In some ways, Sian's back and forth between Alex and Owen frustrated me even though I knew her feelings for each of them was very different, yet at the same time, I understood it in a way as well.
In spite of a few elements which I normally don't care for, Longing was a fairly pleasant read. It was something of a Cinderella tale, but with much more realism than the average fairy tale type story. Because of it's uniqueness, it managed to feed a different part of my brain than some other romances, while still being equally enjoyable. Longing was my first read by Mary Balogh, and even though I've seen some mediocre ratings for it, this book turned out to be a good choice for me. I've heard many favorable things about Ms. Balogh as an author, so I look forward to checking out more of her books soon.
I usually enjoy stories that break from the norm of historical romance, and Longing is just such a book, exhibiting a number of unique qualities. The typical Victorian romance would probably be set in England amidst the backdrop of ton balls and house parties, but Longing is set in a small industrial village in Wales. Although the hero owns a large, ornate castle, very little of the action takes place there, and except for a couple of brief afternoon teas, none of the usual social trappings occur. The majority of scenes take place in the humble confines of the town of Cwmbran (Coom-bran), and better yet, the beautiful hills surrounding it. The heroine has a stunning voice and competes in a music festival, which surrounded by the loveliness of the hills, kind of reminded me of The Sound of Music. I really felt like Mary Balogh captured the allure of the land and the culture of the proud people of Wales. Longing also has a strong historical element, detailing the Chartist Movement, the first and largest organized labor movement of its kind, which was meant to bring about political and social reform particularly for the workers in mining and industry. I can see how these topics might not be very exciting to some readers, but since I've always had an interest in politics and social issues, it was rather intriguing to me. The author even included a couple of the real-life organizers of the movement as characters. I really liked how the author took a middle-of-the-road stance, showing the good and bad on both sides of the issue. Of course, there were mine owners who didn't want to give the workers basic rights and better pay for fear of loosing profits, but there were also those among the Welsh, known as Scotch Cattle, who attempted to strong-arm anyone who refused to follow their cause by terrorizing them. Overall, Longing was a very different sort of historical romance and in many ways that was a good thing.
I must say that the book was very aptly titled, because nearly everyone in the story, particularly the hero and heroine, experiences a deep longing or Hireath in the Gaelic language. Mary Balogh has a slightly different writing style than what I'm used to, almost what I might call a more literary style. There are certain elements in her prose, such as some repetition, which in other hands would probably annoy me, but Ms. Balogh's writing has a very lyrical quality to it which draws out the feelings of yearning so that the reader can palpably sense them. Admittedly though, this also gave the story a rather languid pace, when at times, I would have preferred for things to move a bit faster. I'm a big fan of love-overcomes-all stories, but this one just took a little too long to get there for me. The hero and heroine pine for each other and for the things they believe they cannot have right up until the last few pages. When taken in the proper historical context, I can't exactly fault them for waiting so long, and in the meantime their interactions were very tender and sweet. One of my favorite scenes was after the music festival when they were crossing back over the mountain and took a moment to revel in the simple, quiet pleasure of each other's company. Ms. Balogh may have a more subdued method for conveying emotion, but I found it to still be pretty powerful nonetheless.
Sian was the illegitimate daughter of an English aristocrat who had been raised in relative luxury compared to how she lives at the beginning of the story. She is cramped into one small house with her grandparents and widowed uncle, and after the death of her husband, has also braved the hardships of working in the coal mines. Sian is a woman who is caught between two worlds, not feeling like she completely belongs in either one, but striving hard to be accepted by her mother's people. Then Alex, the owner of the mine and ironworks, comes to town and shakes up her well-ordered world by offering her a position as governess to his young, vivacious daughter, which she eventually accepts because a part of her misses that easier life. Sian was a pretty stubborn lady which at times served her well by giving her incredible strength to endure extreme difficulties and stand up to those who would bully her. At other times, her obstinacy was somewhat annoying, particularly when she kept insisting to herself that she could never be a part of Alex's world and therefore belonged with another man. Overall though, I understood Sian's actions most of the time and had to admit having respect for her even when she was making choices that I probably wouldn't have.
Alexander inherited the village of Cwmbran and all it's industry from an uncle who had no heirs. Previously, Alex had lived a quiet life on a rural estate in England, and when he comes to Wales for a change of pace, he doesn't really know anything about running a mine and ironworks but is determined to learn. He is an idealist who truly believes in mercy and justice, and is very open-minded to the plight of his workers. He wants to help them better their lives, but on a much smaller, more local scale than most of the Welsh people are hoping for, so he is constantly running up against stubborn opposition to his ideas, both from them and from other mine owners in neighboring valleys. Alex also takes his responsibility to his workers very seriously with the obligation weighing quite heavily on his shoulders. I really admired his commitment to social justice and change and his determination to keep going even though he sometimes felt like it would be easier and everyone would be happier if he just went back to England. Alex was a very sensitive, gentle man especially with Sian and his daughter, Verity. He was much more of a beta hero, in my opinion, although he did have a bit of an alpha protective streak, but was very controlled in meting out punishment. He was also a fabulous hands-on father. The only thing that bothered me slightly about Alex was that he offered more than once to make Sian his mistress, but I thought the author did a good job of showing that he was merely a product of the era and social station into which he was born. It was abundantly clear that he loved Sian to distraction, and I do believe that if it wasn't for the social strictures of the time, he would have had her down the aisle in a heartbeat. Overall, Alex was a very appealing hero, and I'm not sure I could have resisted the way Sian did even when he was only offering for her to be his mistress.
The main thing in this story that wasn't really my cup of tea was the unexpected love triangle between Alex, Sian and Owen, a Welsh ironworker who had been courting Sian for a while before Alex came to town. I'm simply not fond of love triangles in general, but this was something of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, I felt that the scenes with Sian and Owen at the beginning took away time that she could have been spending with Alex, and I also felt that Sian was perhaps giving up a little too easily by accepting second best. On the other hand though, I grudgingly concede that it did add a lot to the conflict and the sense of “longing.” This whole part of the story was very complex with Owen not being quite what he seems in the beginning, but also never quite being the villain either in spite of him doing some pretty bad things with which I strongly disagreed. This being the case, my feelings surrounding the love triangle element were pretty complex as well. In some ways, Sian's back and forth between Alex and Owen frustrated me even though I knew her feelings for each of them was very different, yet at the same time, I understood it in a way as well.
In spite of a few elements which I normally don't care for, Longing was a fairly pleasant read. It was something of a Cinderella tale, but with much more realism than the average fairy tale type story. Because of it's uniqueness, it managed to feed a different part of my brain than some other romances, while still being equally enjoyable. Longing was my first read by Mary Balogh, and even though I've seen some mediocre ratings for it, this book turned out to be a good choice for me. I've heard many favorable things about Ms. Balogh as an author, so I look forward to checking out more of her books soon.
May 9, 2024
Longing is the story of Alex, the Marquess of Craille, who finally visits his Welsh estate and whose eyes are opened to the meager existences of the people who work in and around his coalmines. It's the story of Siân, a woman who wants nothing more to be accepted by the people of Cwmbran. He's a widower, she's a widow; he's aristocracy, she works down the mine and is the illegitimate daughter of a knighted landowner.
The setup is perfect for exploring class, and privilege, and family, and what it takes to feel like you really belong somewhere. Alex wants to be admired by his workers and is befuddled by the fact that they don’t like him, even as he works to better their lives, despite the fact that it will mean a drop in profits for him. Siân has always felt a world apart due to her privileged upbringing; she even chose to marry a miner rather than be kept in comfort, all because she longs for the Cwmbran people to accept her.
This is my first Balogh, and I really appreciated how she depicted the miners not as plucky or overly downtrodden Dickensian types, but as people with whole lives, and pride, and desperation, and joy. There is an excellent supporting cast: Owen Parry, the miners’ ringleader who is courting Siân; Angharad, a tragic figure of a woman caught between loyalty and her desire for a better life; Emrys, Angharad’s former lover and Siân’s uncle; Siân’s feisty grandparents Gwynneth and Hywel; her gentle nephew Iestyn. They all feel fully realized rather than 2D props to help keep the plot moving.
Perhaps the most important “character” is the vividly drawn setting: the lush green hills of south Wales and the gray scars that are the mines. Much of village life revolves around “the mountain.” It’s where lovers go when they need privacy, where clandestine meetings are held to discuss the Chartist cause, and where holdouts are taken by ruffians to be whipped until they agree to go along with the Chartists’ plans.
Balogh’s writing style is gentle and straightforward, but powerful. She creates such a sense of place that I could almost feel the dew on the grass beneath my feet.
A word of warning: The book gets off to a rocky start. In true 90s style, Alex keeps kissing Siân out of nowhere (and not especially sexily), and I didn’t really buy their attraction to and love for each other until the last third or so. But from what I’ve heard, writing sex isn’t Balogh’s strong suit. Come for the beautiful storytelling, expert characterization and important depiction of class conflict.
4.5 stars
The setup is perfect for exploring class, and privilege, and family, and what it takes to feel like you really belong somewhere. Alex wants to be admired by his workers and is befuddled by the fact that they don’t like him, even as he works to better their lives, despite the fact that it will mean a drop in profits for him. Siân has always felt a world apart due to her privileged upbringing; she even chose to marry a miner rather than be kept in comfort, all because she longs for the Cwmbran people to accept her.
This is my first Balogh, and I really appreciated how she depicted the miners not as plucky or overly downtrodden Dickensian types, but as people with whole lives, and pride, and desperation, and joy. There is an excellent supporting cast: Owen Parry, the miners’ ringleader who is courting Siân; Angharad, a tragic figure of a woman caught between loyalty and her desire for a better life; Emrys, Angharad’s former lover and Siân’s uncle; Siân’s feisty grandparents Gwynneth and Hywel; her gentle nephew Iestyn. They all feel fully realized rather than 2D props to help keep the plot moving.
Perhaps the most important “character” is the vividly drawn setting: the lush green hills of south Wales and the gray scars that are the mines. Much of village life revolves around “the mountain.” It’s where lovers go when they need privacy, where clandestine meetings are held to discuss the Chartist cause, and where holdouts are taken by ruffians to be whipped until they agree to go along with the Chartists’ plans.
Balogh’s writing style is gentle and straightforward, but powerful. She creates such a sense of place that I could almost feel the dew on the grass beneath my feet.
A word of warning: The book gets off to a rocky start. In true 90s style, Alex keeps kissing Siân out of nowhere (and not especially sexily), and I didn’t really buy their attraction to and love for each other until the last third or so. But from what I’ve heard, writing sex isn’t Balogh’s strong suit. Come for the beautiful storytelling, expert characterization and important depiction of class conflict.
4.5 stars
July 22, 2010
Longing is unlike most Mary Balogh books. In fact there's only one other book that I would compare to it - Truly - which I read last year and loved. Like Truly, this one is set in Wales and it deals with the living conditions of the working class. The men and women who worked on the mines for the big land owners who, not only paid them low wages, but also owned the taverns and the shops where that money would later be spent.
In this story we have on one side the workers who are trying to create unions and a charter of rights to defend themselves against unjust employers. On the other we have the Marquess of Craille, one of the land owners. And in the middle we have Sian, the illegitimate daughter of one of the landowners with a welsh woman. Sian doesn't feel at home in either worlds but, revolted by her mother's fate, decided to live with her welsh grandparents and try to fit in their world.
When Craille and Sian meet she is spying on a secret meeting of the chartists and he is doing much the same. Craille is actually worried about his workers and about giving them a better life but no one seems to believe in his good will at first. He had always been represented by his agent who has acted much in the same way as the other mine owners thus not inspiring any trust in the workers. Craille and Sian are attracted to each other from the beginning but they only get to spend more time with each other after he hires her to be a governess to his young daughter. Still Sian is engaged to be married to a local worker and leader of the chartist movement and distrusts him.
I really enjoyed reading about Sian and Craille, they are not perfect characters, far from it, they are flawed and make mistakes. And they are surrounded by a group of secondary characters who are as interesting as they are. The story has a lot of social concerns, besides the worker's conditions there's also a lot of attention paid to the female status, or lack thereof, in society. There's the cultural differences between the Welsh and the English not to mention the different stations in life between a Marquess and an illegitimate daughter. Unlike many other historical romances being published today this book is high on history, the chartist movement plays a big part in the story and details like welsh music and landscape contribute to create a fascinating and engaging story. I wish Mary Balogh would write more stories set in Wales!
Grade: 4.5/5
In this story we have on one side the workers who are trying to create unions and a charter of rights to defend themselves against unjust employers. On the other we have the Marquess of Craille, one of the land owners. And in the middle we have Sian, the illegitimate daughter of one of the landowners with a welsh woman. Sian doesn't feel at home in either worlds but, revolted by her mother's fate, decided to live with her welsh grandparents and try to fit in their world.
When Craille and Sian meet she is spying on a secret meeting of the chartists and he is doing much the same. Craille is actually worried about his workers and about giving them a better life but no one seems to believe in his good will at first. He had always been represented by his agent who has acted much in the same way as the other mine owners thus not inspiring any trust in the workers. Craille and Sian are attracted to each other from the beginning but they only get to spend more time with each other after he hires her to be a governess to his young daughter. Still Sian is engaged to be married to a local worker and leader of the chartist movement and distrusts him.
I really enjoyed reading about Sian and Craille, they are not perfect characters, far from it, they are flawed and make mistakes. And they are surrounded by a group of secondary characters who are as interesting as they are. The story has a lot of social concerns, besides the worker's conditions there's also a lot of attention paid to the female status, or lack thereof, in society. There's the cultural differences between the Welsh and the English not to mention the different stations in life between a Marquess and an illegitimate daughter. Unlike many other historical romances being published today this book is high on history, the chartist movement plays a big part in the story and details like welsh music and landscape contribute to create a fascinating and engaging story. I wish Mary Balogh would write more stories set in Wales!
Grade: 4.5/5
March 15, 2020
"Hiraeth. The deep--the bone deep--longing for something beyond himself. The longing to be a part of the beauty and the passion and the soul of this little part of Wales. The yearning for--he shook his head. There was no real word for it."
Mary Balogh's historical romance is set in the hills and valleys of a Welsh mining village during the Industrial Revolution. In 1839 the Chartist Movement is gaining supporters to fight for safer working conditions and better pay for the miners and iron workers. Sian Jones is engaged to one of the leaders of the Chartists. But she is also attracted to the English Marquess of Craille who recently inherited the mines. The widowed Marquess also employs Sian as a governess for his young daughter.
This novel combines interesting historical details, Welsh music and culture, and a good sense of place with a romantic love triangle. While some parts of the story seemed a little unrealistic, the book did have a lively plot that kept me turning the pages. 3.5 stars.
Mary Balogh's historical romance is set in the hills and valleys of a Welsh mining village during the Industrial Revolution. In 1839 the Chartist Movement is gaining supporters to fight for safer working conditions and better pay for the miners and iron workers. Sian Jones is engaged to one of the leaders of the Chartists. But she is also attracted to the English Marquess of Craille who recently inherited the mines. The widowed Marquess also employs Sian as a governess for his young daughter.
This novel combines interesting historical details, Welsh music and culture, and a good sense of place with a romantic love triangle. While some parts of the story seemed a little unrealistic, the book did have a lively plot that kept me turning the pages. 3.5 stars.
May 27, 2016
This is a very unusual historical romance, and might not be for everyone. If you loved North and South, this might be the book for you. It's very intense and historical, and definitely not an easy read if all you are looking for is a sweet romance.
In the introduction, Mary Balogh writes that this book is very precious to her because it is set in her native Wales, and her love for the country and the people really shines through. It is set in an early 19th century Welsh mining town, which the hero, an English Marquess, moves to in order to finally take care of his property. To his dismay, he has to realize how abominably his people are treated (child labor and pregnant women working the mines, for example, are sadly reality for his people), but is fought every step of the way not only by the locals who think of him as an interloper who doesn't know what he's doing, but also by his fellow mine-owners and his own steward. Things become really complicated when he falls in love with the illegitimate daughter of a local landowner who works in the mine because she feels this is where she belongs due to the fact that her mother was one of the workers. The struggle these two face is heartbreaking to the extreme, because it seems impossible for them to be together. . What I did love was that the supporting cast and their struggles are so very strong. It adds wonderfully to the historical aspect of the story, and I loved reading about them.
In the introduction, Mary Balogh writes that this book is very precious to her because it is set in her native Wales, and her love for the country and the people really shines through. It is set in an early 19th century Welsh mining town, which the hero, an English Marquess, moves to in order to finally take care of his property. To his dismay, he has to realize how abominably his people are treated (child labor and pregnant women working the mines, for example, are sadly reality for his people), but is fought every step of the way not only by the locals who think of him as an interloper who doesn't know what he's doing, but also by his fellow mine-owners and his own steward. Things become really complicated when he falls in love with the illegitimate daughter of a local landowner who works in the mine because she feels this is where she belongs due to the fact that her mother was one of the workers. The struggle these two face is heartbreaking to the extreme, because it seems impossible for them to be together. . What I did love was that the supporting cast and their struggles are so very strong. It adds wonderfully to the historical aspect of the story, and I loved reading about them.
July 18, 2017
He felt something—some longing, some yearning that he could not quite grasp or name. Some sense, perhaps, of being an outsider in something that was beautiful. Some sense of being in a place where he did not belong but wanted to belong. Some sense of—home.
Wow, ok. This was the book that made me finally go...oh now I get it, why everyone seems to love Mary Balogh. I had attempted a few books (and after some research, apparently the wrong books) and just thought she might not have been for me. But this book, it really changed everything. This character-driven book is completely unique from any historical book I've read in that it takes place entirely in Wales, during the end of the Chartist Movement and the Newport Uprising. It is full of the culture of the people, dealing with the strife from the ironworks and coal mining. It is full of so many conflicts: of the heart, of political ideals, of class differences... and many of these have no easy answers. At times it was brutal and difficult to read. At other times it made me feel so deeply and beautifully, in a way that was extremely spiritual. I felt so much a part of this Welsh community, I could almost smell the heather from atop the hills. The title of the book is more perfect than I could've imagined. Not just because of the longing between the two main characters, but also the longing of the people of Wales for the beauty of the country before coal smoke began to cover the lands. The Welsh word, and song, Hiraeth, which does not translate in English but loosely means the longing and yearning for some unnamed thing, played a huge part throughout the book. And the way Mary Balogh wrote it, there was always this sadness and yearning beneath every word. I found myself crying at different parts and highlighting pages at a time. The only reason this is a four star instead of five for me is the ending felt a bit rushed.
Looking at some lists of her fan favorites, this book doesn't even make the top ten for many. Which, of course, only has me more excited to read more of her books. And there is definitely going to be a binge in my future.
Did not finish
December 9, 2022DNF-ing 41% in
I can’t deal with it. Seems too boring
I can’t deal with it. Seems too boring
March 2, 2012
I'm beginning to think I like Mary Balogh's backlist more than her current novels. Perhaps it's because books like Longing remind me of the books I loved as a young girl - the historical fiction that gave one a sense of place and time and that allowed one to learn about the time period while exploring the growth and relationships of a specific character.
Like her other Topaz novels, Longing is set in Wales. The hero, an English widower-landowner, Alexander, returns to the Welsh castle his family owns. He's astounded by the poverty and conditions of his employees but also slowly recognizes that he can't change everything immediately. Our heroine, Sian, is a lord's illegitimate daughter who feels caught between two worlds. She's not really gentry, but she's not working class. She had married a mineworker but he was killed in an accident. She started working in the mind to prove she was one of the people.
{Avast ye maties, potential plot spoilers ahead}
Characteristic of a Balogh novel, Sian is strong willed and intelligent. She is offered a job as the governess to Alexander's daughter, but accepts it only after prodding from her family and then-boyfriend, soon to be fiance Owan. He believes she could serve as a spy.
At times, the book bordered on preachy. Though I agree with Alexander's assessment of the working conditions and the need for change, at times he seemed like too much of a do-gooder to be a realistic character.
I loved how the romance unfolded, especially the complex relations that Sian faced. She was being courted by someone else, and becomes engaged. She nearly marries him. Yet she's battling the growing attraction to Alexander. An intriguing romance.
Like her other Topaz novels, Longing is set in Wales. The hero, an English widower-landowner, Alexander, returns to the Welsh castle his family owns. He's astounded by the poverty and conditions of his employees but also slowly recognizes that he can't change everything immediately. Our heroine, Sian, is a lord's illegitimate daughter who feels caught between two worlds. She's not really gentry, but she's not working class. She had married a mineworker but he was killed in an accident. She started working in the mind to prove she was one of the people.
{Avast ye maties, potential plot spoilers ahead}
Characteristic of a Balogh novel, Sian is strong willed and intelligent. She is offered a job as the governess to Alexander's daughter, but accepts it only after prodding from her family and then-boyfriend, soon to be fiance Owan. He believes she could serve as a spy.
At times, the book bordered on preachy. Though I agree with Alexander's assessment of the working conditions and the need for change, at times he seemed like too much of a do-gooder to be a realistic character.
I loved how the romance unfolded, especially the complex relations that Sian faced. She was being courted by someone else, and becomes engaged. She nearly marries him. Yet she's battling the growing attraction to Alexander. An intriguing romance.
April 3, 2022
Why did it take me so long to read Balogh’s masterpiece???
June 15, 2019
First of all: I have no idea why this book isn't one of the most popular Mary Balogh's out there...! It is a fantastic, top quality read, complex, historically dense, angsty and bittersweet.
Second: the storytelling is great, strong emotions are conveyed, and the title, "Longing" is accurately chosen and represented throughout the book. All characters are believable, well outlined, and stand out alive and real from the page.
Third & last: the angst factor was at times too much for me, I'm not fond of violence, and the historical setting here (Wales' coal mines in the 1830s) implies terrible hardships and yes, violence that for me, it was hard at times to read. Also, overall, the sweet was most of the time drowned down by the sad... so beware, this is not a sweet, heartwarming read by any means ! There should be a couple of trigger warnings at the start, for those concerned, about violence (and torture) besides the pervasive oppressive feel of helplessness that the impoverished masses were immersed in.
For me, personally, it was just short of 5 stars because the happy reward did not outweight much of the previous sad feelings... I wish for an extended ending with more emphasis on hope & happy, if I am to believe that there is any type of satisfying ending. An epilogue would have been great, but this author's style at the time did not usually include that.
Recommend 100%.
Second: the storytelling is great, strong emotions are conveyed, and the title, "Longing" is accurately chosen and represented throughout the book. All characters are believable, well outlined, and stand out alive and real from the page.
Third & last: the angst factor was at times too much for me, I'm not fond of violence, and the historical setting here (Wales' coal mines in the 1830s) implies terrible hardships and yes, violence that for me, it was hard at times to read. Also, overall, the sweet was most of the time drowned down by the sad... so beware, this is not a sweet, heartwarming read by any means ! There should be a couple of trigger warnings at the start, for those concerned, about violence (and torture) besides the pervasive oppressive feel of helplessness that the impoverished masses were immersed in.
For me, personally, it was just short of 5 stars because the happy reward did not outweight much of the previous sad feelings... I wish for an extended ending with more emphasis on hope & happy, if I am to believe that there is any type of satisfying ending. An epilogue would have been great, but this author's style at the time did not usually include that.
Recommend 100%.
May 14, 2019
I had to stop listening to this one a third of the way in the audiobook. The heroine showed signs of intelligence and as soon as I started rooting for her, she reverted to an idiotic ball of insecurities that I eventually had no patience for.
It did not help one bit that the biggest part of the book (at least so far) deals with a revolution brewing amongst the workers of the hero's mine.
I liked the hero, who knew he was out of his element and was doing his best to learn as much as he could as fast as he could. Unfortunately, he was facing opposition on all sides, from his agent, whom he trusted too much since he had the experience, but I believe was taking advantage of the workers himself, to the worker's leader, who was a bitter little man angry with the world and unwilling to even think of discussing compromise.
The relationship between the heroine and the worker's leader was frustrating me to no end as well, for a number of reasons.
I'm not in the mood to continue frustrating myself by persisting on this book since my TBR list is way too long as it is, so on the on-hold pile it goes.
July 11, 2015
I started reading and thought - another period romance this should be a lighthearted read before bed each night. It turned out to be so engaging and with so many SHOCKS that I had a hard time putting it down and read the entire thing in 3 nights. It is wonderfully written and the characters are rich and fully developed which was such a treat. The descriptions of the valley and the town - it was so well done I could picture it in my mind as I read. I HIGHLY recommend this book..
February 28, 2019
I've listened to this for 3 hours, and at last, decided to call it quits. Longing is very different from Balogh's other books, more literary and entrenched in history, which wasn't quite what I was looking for at the moment. The pacing was also extremely slow, which again, wasn't working for me.
June 24, 2015
My first experience with this author met with an unfortunate dead-end, the book being abandoned due to irritating sniping and relationship interactions that drove me up a wall. So it was with a smidge of hesitation that I embarked on another work by Balogh. Yet, the pretty cover (yes, I’m a cover slut!), the intriguing story premise surrounding the romance, and the author’s reputation made me decide to give another go here. Paid off in spades!
First off, I tip my hat to Balogh in her efforts to give us a fascinating historical background to go with her romance and plot. She excels in both atmospheric details and incorporating actual history into the tale. I could viscerally picture the settings in my head: the Gothic type castle architecture of Alex’s home, the smoke rising over the Welsh hills from the ironworks and mines, and the wild beauty of those same majestic peaks. Then there are the details of the Chartist movement incorporated into the story, with actual people, meetings, and marches woven throughout to give historical weight.
I really enjoyed our leads in this one. Their personalities felt balanced with both good and bad qualities, giving them a 3D feel not often felt in historical romances. I liked Sian’s stubbornness, strength of will, and soft, caring inner core. She was comfortable in her own skin and wasn’t afraid to break her own trail in life by the end. She wanted to fit into her mother’s community but wouldn’t squeeze into a preconceived mold to do so; I admired her for that.
Alex’s sweet and sensitive nature was a nice departure from your usual romantic hero. Now don’t think that makes him a soft touch and a wimp; by the end, he got macho when he needed to and showed people what’s what. Yet, I liked that his first inclination wasn’t to huff and puff to show his masculinity; his preference for compromise and working with people to meet a mutual goal was an incredible show of maturity and again, being comfortable in his own skin.
I loved their interactions and romance. With the right balance of sexual tension and heightened emotion, it kept me flipping page by page till the very end. I really liked that the author stayed away from the interaction model she used in the previous book I read by her. There wasn’t a constant exchange of sniping remarks and bantering; this relationship had more depth and sweetness that I enjoyed. I found myself more emotionally engaged by this book than I usually get, enough that I finished in a marathon session lasting till 1AM.
I also appreciate the role that sex played in this book. The scenes were utilized as something that moves the story or character development forward. Nothing was used as fluff or fan service; every encounter had a reason for occurring or had a lovely sense of spontaneity that drew me further into the relationship rather than disengaging from excessive porn. I liked that weightiness.
This book redeemed Balogh for me. I enjoyed every aspect: the different historical factors in the book, the characters, the main relationship, and the utilization of sex in the narrative. I had to finish the book in one last rush read-a-thon since I just couldn’t tear myself away from the story. I highly recommend this book to fellow historical romance lovers; it’ll be a tale that you’ll want to put real life on the back burner for.
First off, I tip my hat to Balogh in her efforts to give us a fascinating historical background to go with her romance and plot. She excels in both atmospheric details and incorporating actual history into the tale. I could viscerally picture the settings in my head: the Gothic type castle architecture of Alex’s home, the smoke rising over the Welsh hills from the ironworks and mines, and the wild beauty of those same majestic peaks. Then there are the details of the Chartist movement incorporated into the story, with actual people, meetings, and marches woven throughout to give historical weight.
I really enjoyed our leads in this one. Their personalities felt balanced with both good and bad qualities, giving them a 3D feel not often felt in historical romances. I liked Sian’s stubbornness, strength of will, and soft, caring inner core. She was comfortable in her own skin and wasn’t afraid to break her own trail in life by the end. She wanted to fit into her mother’s community but wouldn’t squeeze into a preconceived mold to do so; I admired her for that.
Alex’s sweet and sensitive nature was a nice departure from your usual romantic hero. Now don’t think that makes him a soft touch and a wimp; by the end, he got macho when he needed to and showed people what’s what. Yet, I liked that his first inclination wasn’t to huff and puff to show his masculinity; his preference for compromise and working with people to meet a mutual goal was an incredible show of maturity and again, being comfortable in his own skin.
I loved their interactions and romance. With the right balance of sexual tension and heightened emotion, it kept me flipping page by page till the very end. I really liked that the author stayed away from the interaction model she used in the previous book I read by her. There wasn’t a constant exchange of sniping remarks and bantering; this relationship had more depth and sweetness that I enjoyed. I found myself more emotionally engaged by this book than I usually get, enough that I finished in a marathon session lasting till 1AM.
I also appreciate the role that sex played in this book. The scenes were utilized as something that moves the story or character development forward. Nothing was used as fluff or fan service; every encounter had a reason for occurring or had a lovely sense of spontaneity that drew me further into the relationship rather than disengaging from excessive porn. I liked that weightiness.
This book redeemed Balogh for me. I enjoyed every aspect: the different historical factors in the book, the characters, the main relationship, and the utilization of sex in the narrative. I had to finish the book in one last rush read-a-thon since I just couldn’t tear myself away from the story. I highly recommend this book to fellow historical romance lovers; it’ll be a tale that you’ll want to put real life on the back burner for.
February 7, 2023
Beautifully written, compelling, emotionally charged love story full of Welsh history, culture, and traditions. This is one of the best Balogh books I've read.
July 31, 2019
Absolutely loved it! I am a big fan of historical and romance novels and Longing brings them both together. The book talks about social differences and life in industrialized Wales. An English nobleman inherits an estate where there is a mine and a factory producing steel. There are many people depending of this. It also talks about reforms and the voice of the people and the greed of the masters over the workers. It remind me of Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. But going there with his little daughter, the nobleman, Alexander by his name, finds something more than an estate and a source of income. He feels the valley offers much more to both his soul and his hearth when he wanders the hills and meets a Welsh woman. The more he learns about Sian, the woman, and about the estate, the more he is fascinated. He wants to get involved as he is a liberal in mind, he wants to befriend the people and help them improve their conditions, but he is faced with animosity and distrust.
I could not put this book down, I wept with the characters, I was sad with them, hopeful with them. This story has soul, it has power and it has amazing characters, both main and secondary. All of them feel so alive. They have dreams and goals, they have families and loved one. The little town trembles by its own, all of them has a story behind and the setting is great. The images of the valley were so vivid, so is the factory, the castle and the music festival, the mine full of men, women and children, the harsh conditions and the pride of the Welsh people.
I could not put this book down, I wept with the characters, I was sad with them, hopeful with them. This story has soul, it has power and it has amazing characters, both main and secondary. All of them feel so alive. They have dreams and goals, they have families and loved one. The little town trembles by its own, all of them has a story behind and the setting is great. The images of the valley were so vivid, so is the factory, the castle and the music festival, the mine full of men, women and children, the harsh conditions and the pride of the Welsh people.
June 7, 2016
I'm surprised at how much this book upset me -- I realize that it's an older title and I think that is evident in the style and subject matter. I found myself unable to read it without my modern sensibilities, and frankly, there was just too much non-consensual power play for me to find it at all palatable. I understand that in some ways the point of the book is that Alexander will get over his ignorance and prove to be an ally to the unions in this welsh mining epic, but I just can't get over a couple of points.
1: He consistently kisses Sian without her permission, and with her in a place of being clearly terrified of him. Even if that was ok somehow (nope), he is in such a high position of power over her that she can't refuse him. It's gross.
2: It's an effective picture of the base unfairness of the time and place, and I just don't think there is a convincing way to sell me a romance between an impoverished coal scuttler and a Marquess. I also don't accept that Alexander can be so ignorant of his role in the mining scheme -- it's sadly believable, but still criminally ignorant.
Blah. Sorry, Mary Balogh. I generally love your work, but this one is not something I can get behind.
1: He consistently kisses Sian without her permission, and with her in a place of being clearly terrified of him. Even if that was ok somehow (nope), he is in such a high position of power over her that she can't refuse him. It's gross.
2: It's an effective picture of the base unfairness of the time and place, and I just don't think there is a convincing way to sell me a romance between an impoverished coal scuttler and a Marquess. I also don't accept that Alexander can be so ignorant of his role in the mining scheme -- it's sadly believable, but still criminally ignorant.
Blah. Sorry, Mary Balogh. I generally love your work, but this one is not something I can get behind.
December 2, 2013
Mary Balogh has remarked that amongst her lengthy backlist, 'Longing' is one her favorite creations because it embodies her passion for Wales, the land of her birth. Wales is the ever-present character throughout the book. In 'Longing', Balogh celebrates the beauties of the Welsh terrain, language, music, and culture which sustained the spirit of the impoverished 19th c. coal mining communities, vulnerable, desperate, and simmering for revolution. However, against this rich historical and cultural background, Balogh's novel is grounded by an emotional love story. Not a typical Balogh regency romance, but a rewarding glimpse into the heart of an author who writes of the essential life enhancing capacity of love.
August 8, 2010
Balogh was born in Wales and often shares that she spends time there every year with her family. Longing is set in Wales and it should probably be read while you listen to Welsh choirs (an important plot device). I'd give it a higher grade but it's just a bit too sad for me.
August 15, 2018
I've seen this author several times at the library/bookstore and always felt overwhelmed with where to begin. Thankfully, my amazing book buddy (Thanks, T) recommend this standalone as a starter.
Longing was splendid; a perfect mixture of family, community, and romance. I cannot wait to read more from Balogh.
Longing was splendid; a perfect mixture of family, community, and romance. I cannot wait to read more from Balogh.
February 11, 2024
I love old school Mary Balogh, and this fit her style so perfectly.
November 27, 2021
Ergh. Meh. Gulrp.
Is that giving an indication of my thoughts on this book? Or do you need a little more? A little more would be "good grief!"
Alright. Here's the thing. I love Balogh books. Up until this read I would have said that I haven't met a Balogh book I didn't like. But fricking enter Sian and Alex. She doesn't know what she wants until she changes her mind eight dozen times. Alex keeps "accidentally" taking advantage of her after routinely telling himself to keep things calm in his pants. She doesn't know what she wants and he only knows he wants her, even when she's drugged to help with the pain of being whipped. I wish I was kidding.
And then there's Owen. The guy I was actually rooting for. At all times, he honored Sian's wishes, even when she was infuriating him. He respected her. Wanted to marry her and in the end of the book, offered her the ultimate gift. I liked Owen!
If this had been written by any other author, it would still read trite and choppy. The killer thing is that it's Balogh and she's better than this! Was this her first book? It's awful.
If you were thinking of this being your first Mary B. read, skip it. She's got countless others and when you've read all those, still leave this one on the shelf.
Is that giving an indication of my thoughts on this book? Or do you need a little more? A little more would be "good grief!"
Alright. Here's the thing. I love Balogh books. Up until this read I would have said that I haven't met a Balogh book I didn't like. But fricking enter Sian and Alex. She doesn't know what she wants until she changes her mind eight dozen times. Alex keeps "accidentally" taking advantage of her after routinely telling himself to keep things calm in his pants. She doesn't know what she wants and he only knows he wants her, even when she's drugged to help with the pain of being whipped. I wish I was kidding.
And then there's Owen. The guy I was actually rooting for. At all times, he honored Sian's wishes, even when she was infuriating him. He respected her. Wanted to marry her and in the end of the book, offered her the ultimate gift. I liked Owen!
If this had been written by any other author, it would still read trite and choppy. The killer thing is that it's Balogh and she's better than this! Was this her first book? It's awful.
If you were thinking of this being your first Mary B. read, skip it. She's got countless others and when you've read all those, still leave this one on the shelf.
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