Slightly Wicked & Slightly Scandalous

Bedwyn Saga #2-3

by Mary Balogh

Meet the Bedwyns... Six brothers and sisters-men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality. Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal.

SLIGHTLY WICKED

... where Rannulf Bedwyn, the rebellious third son, enters into a liaison that is rather risqué, somewhat naughty, and...Slightly Wicked.
With his laughing eyes and wild, rakish good looks, Lord Rannulf Bedwyn is a hard man to resist. To Judith Law, a woman in need of rescue when her stagecoach overturns, Rannulf is simply her savior, a heroic stranger she will reward with one night of reckless passion before she must become a companion to her wealthy aunt. Imagine Judith's shock when the same stranger turns out to be among England's most eligible bachelors...and when he arrives at Harewood Grange to woo her cousin.

SLIGHTLY SCANDALOUS

...where Freyja Bedwyn, the wild-hearted daughter, meets her match in a man as passionate, reckless, and scandalous as she.
Growing up with four unruly brothers has made Freyja Bedwyn far bolder than most society ladies. From feisty manner to long, tumbling hair, Lady Freyja is pure fire, a woman who seeks both adventure and freedom. Adventure soon finds her on a visit to Bath, when a handsome stranger bursts into Freyja's room and entreats her to hide him. His name is Joshua Moore, Marquess of Hallmere, a man with a hell-raising reputation of his own who is quickly intrigued by the independent beauty. So intrigued, in fact, that he makes her a surprising request: to pose as his fiancée and help thwart his family's matchmaking schemes. For two people determined to be free, it's the perfect plan...until passion blindsides them both.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Regency

535 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Mary 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.

Reviews

[Mariana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Dobby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a general review of the Bedwyn Saga series, though it applies perfectly to these two books. The pace is steady, not quite brisk but certainly not dragging. The characters are strong and well-developed, becoming real and imperfect human beings growing as they go. The plot at first appears to be simple, kinda like that first spoonful of an exquisite chocolate mousse, then the flavors explode and all you can do is settle back and enjoy the experience.

I am in awe of the skill it takes for an author to successfully tie together so many characters, so many environments, so many story lines—and have it all work seamlessly. I started reading Mary Balogh based on glowing recommendations by my best-friend-reading-buddy. Historical romance is a genre to which I had not had much exposure, but I appreciate skillful writing wherever I find it. Now that I've discovered this author, I'm devouring her books and enjoying every minute of it.

[Julie D'Arcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Mary Balogh writes and her stories are so original. I listened to the audio, narrated by Rosalyn Landor.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Freyja and Joshua were perfect together. I loved the way Joshua handled her and could put her in her place.