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Bedwyn Saga
Noche de amor
La extraordinaria historia de un hombre y dos mujeres ante una realidad brutal en la que está en juego el verdadero amor.
Cuando Neville Wyatt espera en el altar a su prometida, Lauren, se imagina una ceremonia tan perfecta como su novia. Pero justo cuando Lauren está a punto de iniciar el recorrido nupcial, aparece otra mujer, vestida con un traje raído. Neville se vuelve blanco como la cera, ya que se trata de Lily, su mujer, a quien daba por muerta desde hacía dos años, y de quien apenas conserva en el recuerdo y en la piel una gloriosa noche de amor. Ahora que ella ha vuelto, los problemas son numerosos. Neville debe solucionar la situación con la disgustada Lauren, que ha estado esperando esta boda desde hace años. Y es que en el recuerdo de Neville y Lily ha quedado algo más fuerte que el deseo, algo más que una simple noche de amor.
Cuando Neville Wyatt espera en el altar a su prometida, Lauren, se imagina una ceremonia tan perfecta como su novia. Pero justo cuando Lauren está a punto de iniciar el recorrido nupcial, aparece otra mujer, vestida con un traje raído. Neville se vuelve blanco como la cera, ya que se trata de Lily, su mujer, a quien daba por muerta desde hacía dos años, y de quien apenas conserva en el recuerdo y en la piel una gloriosa noche de amor. Ahora que ella ha vuelto, los problemas son numerosos. Neville debe solucionar la situación con la disgustada Lauren, que ha estado esperando esta boda desde hace años. Y es que en el recuerdo de Neville y Lily ha quedado algo más fuerte que el deseo, algo más que una simple noche de amor.
413 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
375 people are currently reading
4280 people want to read
About the author
Mary Balogh
200 books6,341 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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November 12, 2017
”He said nothing to the woman at his side. He could not yet trust the reality of what had happened, of what was happening, even though he held tightly to the apparition and could feel her small hand in his own.
He was remembering…”
Synopsis: A bride’s nightmare upon a nightmare comes true, but sometimes crashing a wedding can turn out…. OK???
Biblio-Babble:
Sympathizing with a Wedding Crasher??!!!: Me? Sympathizing with a woman who crashes the wedding of a lord and lady and has the AUDACITY to claim that she’s his wife?!! How on Earth could I sympathize with someone like that?!!! It’s preposterous! Unheard of! Wedding crashers should immediately be apprehended by bouncers and booted off the premises.
And yet I found it absolutely impossible to hate Lily Doyle, the aforementioned wedding crasher. I mean, you would think it would be a natural thing to dislike that she interrupted someone else’s happiness, right? But almost right away, Lily charms her way into your heart and never quite let’s go. Sweet, gentle, spirited, lively, and most certainly not a lady, she is Neville Wyatt’s wife but was have thought to been shot dead on the Spanish battlefield. She survives, but is taken captive and tortured by a general named Miguel, whom you’ll hear about but never quite get the full details. But since she’s a major’s daughter, she has no education (the poor thing can’t even read), and certainly didn’t get any lessons on how to behave like a proper Regency gentlewoman. Crashing the wedding of one of the most well respected gentlemen in the country doesn’t win her any awards either, at least right away. But Lily being Lily, she wins people over in no time. I honestly loved Lily and was rooting for her to succeed throughout the entire novel. You just can’t help but love her. She’s practical in the sense that she knows that she probably shouldn’t have destroyed a potential marriage, but at the same time after all she’s been through, you kind of don’t fault her.
He’s Not a Cad! He’s Not a Cad! He’s Not a Cad!: Plug your eardrums and let me grab my megaphone, because I have a very important announcement to make…
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, NEVILLE WYATT, EARL OF KILBOURNE, IS NOT A CAD. I REPEAT, HE IS NOT A CAD. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. IT’S A GODDAMN MIRACLE OF JESUS.
Neville is a gem. An absolute gem. Do you know how many historical romance male heroes are absolute douchebags? According to my Goodreads shelves, I have read seven historical romance novels and only two of the heroes weren’t horrible. It seems like it’s an unspoken requirement that all males in historical romances are supposed to be misogynistic, egotistical assholes. But Neville was such an unexpected, shocking surprise that I didn’t quite believe it at first. He’s kind, passionate, spontaneous, handsome, and above all, puts Lily’s interests and her well being first and foremost. Yeah, he had a hell of a shock when she came barging through the church doors, and he could have gone about this the usual HR way and kicked her ass or hurled vile insults (that the author would later claim to have been witty, not wile) at her, but no. Being the absolutely awesome dude that he is, he offers her a place to stay and acknowledges her as his wife. And then proceeds to make her as comfortable as possible. And that’s it.
He never tries to force himself on her, not even for a kiss. He lets her take the lead and HE FUCKING RESPECTS HER. That literally never happens in HR, I tell ya. He was such a refreshing treat, and he is one historical romance hero that you’ll fall a little in love with yourself!
Best. Aunt. Ever.: All the characters are equally lovely in their own right, but none of them is quite so humorous and simultaneously badass as Elizabeth is. Elizabeth is Neville’s spinster aunt, and has always been supportive of her ‘favorite nephew.’ She is also one of the few that takes to Lily right away rather than outright hate her from the get go. She also plays a key supporting role later in the novel, especially when it comes to teaching Lily to be a proper lady. Brash, honest, and unfailingly loyal, Elizabeth is Lily’s guide, mentor, and mother figure in the scary world that is high society Regency England. She takes a childish delight in helping Lily learn everything there is to know in the etiquette and manners of a gentlewoman, and it’s so fun to watch the process. I’m sure there will be some readers who feel like Neville that she is taking advantage of Lily and making her do this against her will, but alas; Lily is the one who suggests it to Elizabeth (or so we think, though I think Elizabeth gently suggested it first). Basically I just want Elizabeth to adopt me already so she can teach me how to be gentlewoman too!
Mawwaige Is What Brings Us Together, Today… Maybe: I think the whole marriage plot was a more complicated than it needed to be. So the whole plot synopsis revolves around a crashed wedding and how Lily was already married to Neville before she was presumed dead, right? Well, the author decided (I don’t know why), to throw in another monkey wrench by having Neville state that they weren’t ‘legally married’ in the proper documentation sense. That leads to a whole other plotline because of that that I think wasn’t necessarily needed, not to mention that it broke up my favorite ship (harrumph).
**********************
This novel is what would happen if Demelza had crashed Elizabeth and Poldark’s wedding (and I love me some Poldark). Sweet with sharp social commentary on class and gender and two main characters who defy the historical romance odds and are actually decent people, this book will restore your faith in historical romance novels and how their characters are portrayed. This was my first Mary Balogh book, and it was such a treat that I know I’ll be coming back to her sometime soon.
He was remembering…”
Synopsis: A bride’s nightmare upon a nightmare comes true, but sometimes crashing a wedding can turn out…. OK???
Biblio-Babble:
Sympathizing with a Wedding Crasher??!!!: Me? Sympathizing with a woman who crashes the wedding of a lord and lady and has the AUDACITY to claim that she’s his wife?!! How on Earth could I sympathize with someone like that?!!! It’s preposterous! Unheard of! Wedding crashers should immediately be apprehended by bouncers and booted off the premises.
And yet I found it absolutely impossible to hate Lily Doyle, the aforementioned wedding crasher. I mean, you would think it would be a natural thing to dislike that she interrupted someone else’s happiness, right? But almost right away, Lily charms her way into your heart and never quite let’s go. Sweet, gentle, spirited, lively, and most certainly not a lady, she is Neville Wyatt’s wife but was have thought to been shot dead on the Spanish battlefield. She survives, but is taken captive and tortured by a general named Miguel, whom you’ll hear about but never quite get the full details. But since she’s a major’s daughter, she has no education (the poor thing can’t even read), and certainly didn’t get any lessons on how to behave like a proper Regency gentlewoman. Crashing the wedding of one of the most well respected gentlemen in the country doesn’t win her any awards either, at least right away. But Lily being Lily, she wins people over in no time. I honestly loved Lily and was rooting for her to succeed throughout the entire novel. You just can’t help but love her. She’s practical in the sense that she knows that she probably shouldn’t have destroyed a potential marriage, but at the same time after all she’s been through, you kind of don’t fault her.
He’s Not a Cad! He’s Not a Cad! He’s Not a Cad!: Plug your eardrums and let me grab my megaphone, because I have a very important announcement to make…
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, NEVILLE WYATT, EARL OF KILBOURNE, IS NOT A CAD. I REPEAT, HE IS NOT A CAD. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. IT’S A GODDAMN MIRACLE OF JESUS.
Neville is a gem. An absolute gem. Do you know how many historical romance male heroes are absolute douchebags? According to my Goodreads shelves, I have read seven historical romance novels and only two of the heroes weren’t horrible. It seems like it’s an unspoken requirement that all males in historical romances are supposed to be misogynistic, egotistical assholes. But Neville was such an unexpected, shocking surprise that I didn’t quite believe it at first. He’s kind, passionate, spontaneous, handsome, and above all, puts Lily’s interests and her well being first and foremost. Yeah, he had a hell of a shock when she came barging through the church doors, and he could have gone about this the usual HR way and kicked her ass or hurled vile insults (that the author would later claim to have been witty, not wile) at her, but no. Being the absolutely awesome dude that he is, he offers her a place to stay and acknowledges her as his wife. And then proceeds to make her as comfortable as possible. And that’s it.
He never tries to force himself on her, not even for a kiss. He lets her take the lead and HE FUCKING RESPECTS HER. That literally never happens in HR, I tell ya. He was such a refreshing treat, and he is one historical romance hero that you’ll fall a little in love with yourself!
Best. Aunt. Ever.: All the characters are equally lovely in their own right, but none of them is quite so humorous and simultaneously badass as Elizabeth is. Elizabeth is Neville’s spinster aunt, and has always been supportive of her ‘favorite nephew.’ She is also one of the few that takes to Lily right away rather than outright hate her from the get go. She also plays a key supporting role later in the novel, especially when it comes to teaching Lily to be a proper lady. Brash, honest, and unfailingly loyal, Elizabeth is Lily’s guide, mentor, and mother figure in the scary world that is high society Regency England. She takes a childish delight in helping Lily learn everything there is to know in the etiquette and manners of a gentlewoman, and it’s so fun to watch the process. I’m sure there will be some readers who feel like Neville that she is taking advantage of Lily and making her do this against her will, but alas; Lily is the one who suggests it to Elizabeth (or so we think, though I think Elizabeth gently suggested it first). Basically I just want Elizabeth to adopt me already so she can teach me how to be gentlewoman too!
Mawwaige Is What Brings Us Together, Today… Maybe: I think the whole marriage plot was a more complicated than it needed to be. So the whole plot synopsis revolves around a crashed wedding and how Lily was already married to Neville before she was presumed dead, right? Well, the author decided (I don’t know why), to throw in another monkey wrench by having Neville state that they weren’t ‘legally married’ in the proper documentation sense. That leads to a whole other plotline because of that that I think wasn’t necessarily needed, not to mention that it broke up my favorite ship (harrumph).
**********************
This novel is what would happen if Demelza had crashed Elizabeth and Poldark’s wedding (and I love me some Poldark). Sweet with sharp social commentary on class and gender and two main characters who defy the historical romance odds and are actually decent people, this book will restore your faith in historical romance novels and how their characters are portrayed. This was my first Mary Balogh book, and it was such a treat that I know I’ll be coming back to her sometime soon.
January 19, 2020
I’m on a Mary Balogh kick.
This was good. Four stars in some places.
The heroine stops the hero from marrying another woman literally at the altar, but it’s no cutesy scene. The consequences are devastating for the other woman and even the heroine.
Lily is an illiterate, fun, sweet gyspy-ish girl as she was raised traveling with the British army with her Sargeant father. There’s a hint of Mary Sue about her, but she’s not annoying. The hero had married her to protect her, but thinks she is killed shortly after they consummate their marriage. It’s now 18 months later, and he is now an Earl getting ready to marry a childhood friend. Too bad he never mentioned he was married as everyone is horrified that he’s jilted pretty and perfect Lauren as well as the fact that Lily is no lady. Social and class issues run amuck. The H’s mother’s reaction is pretty understandable and not too OTT, but two characters reactions are and really colored my enjoyment.
Lauren, the martyred, jilted fiancee is understandably bitter, but her admission even to me as the reader that she wants the heroine dead was a little much. The real kicker is the H’s sister, Gwendoline, the heroine from The Proposal. If you liked her in that book, I would seriously suggest NOT reading this one as she goes on a ripping tear and announces she wished the heroine dead, etc and so forth. It’s a minor issue, but I think I noticed it all the more having read/re-read so many of the Survivors Club series recently where Gwen is sweetness and light.
Anyhoo, that unpleasantness aside, the H is thrilled to have Lily back, but the conundrum is she is miserable in Regency England upper society. Illiterate, more comfortable with the servants than the Earl’s family and friends and unencumbered by the social restrictions of the others, she knows she is a fish out of water and a potential embarrassment. In fairness to the H he doesn’t want to change her, and there lies the crux of the breakup.
Turns out the marriage wasn’t legal so the heroine leaves with one of the hero’s relatives to be a companion. In London, she quickly starts to gain some of the polish and skills to fit in. The hero follows.
There is a secondary plot regarding someone who tries to kill Lily as well as a secondary romance.
Four stars for Lily as well as the love between the H and h, but the hero’s efforts just don’t measure up times. He says all the right things, he loves Lily for who she is, but he seems a little too beta for me. His name is Neville after all. Plus my HUGE side eye to Gwendoline and Lauren. Be gone witches.
Off to read Lauren’s book and see if she redeems herself somehow or if there is a fictional whitewash that sometimes happens when a character jumps books…cough Diana Palmer heroes.
This was good. Four stars in some places.
The heroine stops the hero from marrying another woman literally at the altar, but it’s no cutesy scene. The consequences are devastating for the other woman and even the heroine.
Lily is an illiterate, fun, sweet gyspy-ish girl as she was raised traveling with the British army with her Sargeant father. There’s a hint of Mary Sue about her, but she’s not annoying. The hero had married her to protect her, but thinks she is killed shortly after they consummate their marriage. It’s now 18 months later, and he is now an Earl getting ready to marry a childhood friend. Too bad he never mentioned he was married as everyone is horrified that he’s jilted pretty and perfect Lauren as well as the fact that Lily is no lady. Social and class issues run amuck. The H’s mother’s reaction is pretty understandable and not too OTT, but two characters reactions are and really colored my enjoyment.
Lauren, the martyred, jilted fiancee is understandably bitter, but her admission even to me as the reader that she wants the heroine dead was a little much. The real kicker is the H’s sister, Gwendoline, the heroine from The Proposal. If you liked her in that book, I would seriously suggest NOT reading this one as she goes on a ripping tear and announces she wished the heroine dead, etc and so forth. It’s a minor issue, but I think I noticed it all the more having read/re-read so many of the Survivors Club series recently where Gwen is sweetness and light.
Anyhoo, that unpleasantness aside, the H is thrilled to have Lily back, but the conundrum is she is miserable in Regency England upper society. Illiterate, more comfortable with the servants than the Earl’s family and friends and unencumbered by the social restrictions of the others, she knows she is a fish out of water and a potential embarrassment. In fairness to the H he doesn’t want to change her, and there lies the crux of the breakup.
Turns out the marriage wasn’t legal so the heroine leaves with one of the hero’s relatives to be a companion. In London, she quickly starts to gain some of the polish and skills to fit in. The hero follows.
There is a secondary plot regarding someone who tries to kill Lily as well as a secondary romance.
Four stars for Lily as well as the love between the H and h, but the hero’s efforts just don’t measure up times. He says all the right things, he loves Lily for who she is, but he seems a little too beta for me. His name is Neville after all. Plus my HUGE side eye to Gwendoline and Lauren. Be gone witches.
Off to read Lauren’s book and see if she redeems herself somehow or if there is a fictional whitewash that sometimes happens when a character jumps books…cough Diana Palmer heroes.
October 26, 2009
One Night For Love is the first prequel to Mary Balogh's Slightly series. A Summer to Remember is a continuation of the events in this book and the two are best read in order.
Neville Wyatt met Lily Doyle during the war when she was 14 and he was 23. He felt a deep affection for her, but he knew that nothing could ever happen between them because of the difference in their social position (not to mention their ages). He was the heir to an earldom and Lily the illiterate daughter of a common soldier. When Lily was 18, her father was critically wounded in an ambush. Neville made a promise to the dying man that he would marry Lily and give her the protection of his name. Although Neville knew that it was the wrong thing to do from a social standpoint, his heart was very happy to have the choice taken away.
Neville and Lily spent one night together and then they were both critically wounded in an attack. Left for dead, Lily was taken hostage by the enemy and Neville went home to recuperate. Mourning the loss of Lily but determined to do his duty and produce the next heir, Neville resigned himself to marry Lauren, the woman who he had been expected to marry since childhood. As a side note, Lauren is the heroine in A Summer to Remember. The wedding was cut short by Lily's sudden appearance after 18 months.
The storyline here was a bit contrived, but Lily and Neville were such great characters and the story so well written that it really didn't matter. Lily was a free spirit who faced captivity and the long journey to get back to Neville with a strength and determination that one can't help but admire. Although Neville was glad to see her, he also realized that there would be many challenges in having Lily as his countess. She knew nothing about his way of life and trying to fit in made her miserable. Sometimes it was painful to read how uncomfortable Lily was in Neville's world although most of his family did make an effort to help her fit in.
Lily and Neville truly loved each other, but is love always enough to overcome any obstacle? In this book, you see the great lengths that Lily goes to in order to make herself feel worthy to fit into Neville's world. It isn't something he asks of her, it's just something that she feels she needs to do on a personal level.
My "relationship" with Mary Balogh got off to a rocky start with More than a Mistress because I didn't really care for that book. One Night for Love shows that you should never judge an author by just one book because I loved this one!
Neville Wyatt met Lily Doyle during the war when she was 14 and he was 23. He felt a deep affection for her, but he knew that nothing could ever happen between them because of the difference in their social position (not to mention their ages). He was the heir to an earldom and Lily the illiterate daughter of a common soldier. When Lily was 18, her father was critically wounded in an ambush. Neville made a promise to the dying man that he would marry Lily and give her the protection of his name. Although Neville knew that it was the wrong thing to do from a social standpoint, his heart was very happy to have the choice taken away.
Neville and Lily spent one night together and then they were both critically wounded in an attack. Left for dead, Lily was taken hostage by the enemy and Neville went home to recuperate. Mourning the loss of Lily but determined to do his duty and produce the next heir, Neville resigned himself to marry Lauren, the woman who he had been expected to marry since childhood. As a side note, Lauren is the heroine in A Summer to Remember. The wedding was cut short by Lily's sudden appearance after 18 months.
The storyline here was a bit contrived, but Lily and Neville were such great characters and the story so well written that it really didn't matter. Lily was a free spirit who faced captivity and the long journey to get back to Neville with a strength and determination that one can't help but admire. Although Neville was glad to see her, he also realized that there would be many challenges in having Lily as his countess. She knew nothing about his way of life and trying to fit in made her miserable. Sometimes it was painful to read how uncomfortable Lily was in Neville's world although most of his family did make an effort to help her fit in.
Lily and Neville truly loved each other, but is love always enough to overcome any obstacle? In this book, you see the great lengths that Lily goes to in order to make herself feel worthy to fit into Neville's world. It isn't something he asks of her, it's just something that she feels she needs to do on a personal level.
My "relationship" with Mary Balogh got off to a rocky start with More than a Mistress because I didn't really care for that book. One Night for Love shows that you should never judge an author by just one book because I loved this one!
February 15, 2018
This book took me a lot of patience and over a year to read. Yep. It was the first ever Mary Balogh book I tried to read, and I’d actually given up on it and figured she may not be for me. After seeing so much praise for her, I finally dipped my toes back in with A Matter of Class. Which thankfully was a quick, fun novella that made me realize she is for me. I have since read others I love (hello Longing!) and my stubbornness about reading order and knowing I wanted to read this series is what kept me going. I could only take the main characters in small doses. Overall they were bland and unremarkable. Most of the time I was bored. There were moments I was engrossed and the writing is technically good, hence the two instead of one star. But when I actually finished this book, I wanted to do cartwheels...cause Finally.
June 18, 2022
Neville Wyatt, conde de Kilbourne está a punto de casarse con su prometida Lauren, pero ante las puertas de la iglesia no es ella la que aparece, sino Lily Doyle, su esposa, la mujer que creyó muerta hace dos años y de la que solo tiene el recuerdo de una noche de amor.
Este libro es el inicio, la precuela de la serie Bedwyn compuesta por seis novelas. Lily Doyle es su protagonista, una joven que tras perder a su madre, crece junto a su padre, entre los soldados que forman parte del regimiento en el que se encuentra su progenitor, es así como conoce a Neville Wyatt y entre ellos surge una especial amistad pese a su diferencia de edad.
Entre ese ambiente ni Neville ni Lily sienten la diferencia de clases, allí todos forman un equipo donde la meta es sobrevivir a la batalla.
Entre circunstancias que prefiero no desvelar para no destripar mucho la historia, Lily y Neville acaban casándose, pero las circunstancias los separan y él la supone muerta, y cuál es su sopresa cuando aparece ella en el preciso momento de su boda. Es así como un Neville, sorprendido y estupefacto, declara que Lily es su esposa y debe lidiar con el escándalo, con una prometida (Lauren) que no acaba de entender y de asimilar que el hombre con el que siempre soñó que sería su esposo ya no estaba libre y con el resto de su familia y amigos.
La autora divide la historia en cuatro partes donde iremos descubriendo tanto el pasado como también la evolución que toma el matrimonio de Neville y Lily, pero más que nada la transformación de Lily.
Lily y Neville provienen de mundos muy distintos, las diferencias no existían en el campo de batalla, y ellos podían sentirse libres, pero de vuelta a la “vida real” las diferencias de clase hacen mella en la relación de la pareja, por mucho que Neville se esfuerce en hacer que Lily se sienta cómoda.
Lily ha sido un personaje fascinante, y con una evolución increíble a lo largo de la novela. Ella se ha criado en un ambiente duro, entre soldados y batallas, pero siempre conservando la alegría y el entusiasmo... https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
Este libro es el inicio, la precuela de la serie Bedwyn compuesta por seis novelas. Lily Doyle es su protagonista, una joven que tras perder a su madre, crece junto a su padre, entre los soldados que forman parte del regimiento en el que se encuentra su progenitor, es así como conoce a Neville Wyatt y entre ellos surge una especial amistad pese a su diferencia de edad.
Entre ese ambiente ni Neville ni Lily sienten la diferencia de clases, allí todos forman un equipo donde la meta es sobrevivir a la batalla.
Entre circunstancias que prefiero no desvelar para no destripar mucho la historia, Lily y Neville acaban casándose, pero las circunstancias los separan y él la supone muerta, y cuál es su sopresa cuando aparece ella en el preciso momento de su boda. Es así como un Neville, sorprendido y estupefacto, declara que Lily es su esposa y debe lidiar con el escándalo, con una prometida (Lauren) que no acaba de entender y de asimilar que el hombre con el que siempre soñó que sería su esposo ya no estaba libre y con el resto de su familia y amigos.
La autora divide la historia en cuatro partes donde iremos descubriendo tanto el pasado como también la evolución que toma el matrimonio de Neville y Lily, pero más que nada la transformación de Lily.
Lily y Neville provienen de mundos muy distintos, las diferencias no existían en el campo de batalla, y ellos podían sentirse libres, pero de vuelta a la “vida real” las diferencias de clase hacen mella en la relación de la pareja, por mucho que Neville se esfuerce en hacer que Lily se sienta cómoda.
Lily ha sido un personaje fascinante, y con una evolución increíble a lo largo de la novela. Ella se ha criado en un ambiente duro, entre soldados y batallas, pero siempre conservando la alegría y el entusiasmo... https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
July 10, 2021
Overall: 2.5 rounded to ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Not really? I cannot recall much in this book, if so just a touch.
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 except our steam scale, which follows our ratings for The Ton and Tartans Facebook group)
Lily and Neville started a life together in Portugal in the middle of a war. With only one night spent together, they are lost to each other the very next day. On the day of Neville’s wedding to another, she returns.
Give this book a try if you want:
- Second chance romance
- Class differences – this has a true class difference feeling – you really feel how lost the heroine can be in social situations within the aristocracy and the judgment of those ‘above’ her
- Low steam – while there are 4 sex scenes (some are close together and feel like one) they are quite short (1-2 pages) with not many explicit details
- Regency romance time period – this one takes place around 1813
- A soldier hero (he also has a scarred face, but it’s not a plot point of the story at all, just mentioned once) and some parts of war do take place on page
- You are okay with content warnings including rape and imprisonment (not by the hero) of the heroine
- Prodigal heroine returns – she’s been missing and presumed dead before returning
- Lots of colorful side characters that brighten the story
Sadly, I was not a fan of this book. I found myself a bit bored. I didn’t adore either main character. It makes me feel like a heartless wretch with their background of heartache and loss, but I just didn’t connect with either of them really. Lily was strong, yes, and I didn’t dislike her, but she also just felt flat to me and I didn’t care overly much about her. Neville seemed really sweet and caring, but I also wasn’t attached to him either. He didn’t have as much page time though. The plot was strong, the world she created a lovely set up, but all the aspects of romance that I love were missing.
I think part of it was they just seemed in love right from the beginning. I want to fall in love with the characters, that’s why I love romance. And this one, they just seemed to love each other and I didn’t get why. I also didn’t get the heartbreak of their separation like I have with other second chance romances.
I’m glad I’ll know their background for other books, but not anything I would want to reread, or remember strongly.
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Plot/Storyline: 📖📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡
Romance: 💞💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Humor: Not really? I cannot recall much in this book, if so just a touch.
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 except our steam scale, which follows our ratings for The Ton and Tartans Facebook group)
Lily and Neville started a life together in Portugal in the middle of a war. With only one night spent together, they are lost to each other the very next day. On the day of Neville’s wedding to another, she returns.
Give this book a try if you want:
- Second chance romance
- Class differences – this has a true class difference feeling – you really feel how lost the heroine can be in social situations within the aristocracy and the judgment of those ‘above’ her
- Low steam – while there are 4 sex scenes (some are close together and feel like one) they are quite short (1-2 pages) with not many explicit details
- Regency romance time period – this one takes place around 1813
- A soldier hero (he also has a scarred face, but it’s not a plot point of the story at all, just mentioned once) and some parts of war do take place on page
- You are okay with content warnings including rape and imprisonment (not by the hero) of the heroine
- Prodigal heroine returns – she’s been missing and presumed dead before returning
- Lots of colorful side characters that brighten the story
Sadly, I was not a fan of this book. I found myself a bit bored. I didn’t adore either main character. It makes me feel like a heartless wretch with their background of heartache and loss, but I just didn’t connect with either of them really. Lily was strong, yes, and I didn’t dislike her, but she also just felt flat to me and I didn’t care overly much about her. Neville seemed really sweet and caring, but I also wasn’t attached to him either. He didn’t have as much page time though. The plot was strong, the world she created a lovely set up, but all the aspects of romance that I love were missing.
I think part of it was they just seemed in love right from the beginning. I want to fall in love with the characters, that’s why I love romance. And this one, they just seemed to love each other and I didn’t get why. I also didn’t get the heartbreak of their separation like I have with other second chance romances.
I’m glad I’ll know their background for other books, but not anything I would want to reread, or remember strongly.
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
November 16, 2015
First, I have to admit that I generally enjoy books by Mary Balogh. Her characters are likeable and the plot is usually well developed.
However, I struggled reading One Night of Love. I read first few pages and put it down to read two or three other books. I found myself in no mood to carry on. Finally, I decided that I have to finish it or put it down once and for all. And here I started skipping pages cause I was not interested enough. The first one third was all together rather boring. So I made a decision to read something else once again. After choosing five other books instead of One Night of Love I decided there is no point in pushing myself if I'm not interested.
I gave up at 30% because of lack of interest. Two stars considering it was not annoying, it was just plain and boring.
I have already read four other books in Bedwyn Saga and really enjoyed them. I have no idea what is wrong with One Night of Love. Maybe it's because it was one of the earlier books by Balogh and she became a better writer later on.
However, I struggled reading One Night of Love. I read first few pages and put it down to read two or three other books. I found myself in no mood to carry on. Finally, I decided that I have to finish it or put it down once and for all. And here I started skipping pages cause I was not interested enough. The first one third was all together rather boring. So I made a decision to read something else once again. After choosing five other books instead of One Night of Love I decided there is no point in pushing myself if I'm not interested.
I gave up at 30% because of lack of interest. Two stars considering it was not annoying, it was just plain and boring.
I have already read four other books in Bedwyn Saga and really enjoyed them. I have no idea what is wrong with One Night of Love. Maybe it's because it was one of the earlier books by Balogh and she became a better writer later on.
July 6, 2019
FYI. First this book, and then next A Summer to Remember are both "prequels" to the Bedwyn family's "Slightly" series.
I found it hard to swallow/accept that a peer from rank and status obsessed England (at the time that this book took place) would marry someone who was practically an illiterate, barefoot and then have her be accepted by his tonnish family and friends!
I need an HR writer to create (to some degree) an illusion that the characters are behaving, have the attitudes that are consistent with the time and culture that the story takes place! This book was off the mark by light years! What a silly story in that respect!
AStR and the Slighly series that all followed this book all made better sense than this crazy story did!
I found it hard to swallow/accept that a peer from rank and status obsessed England (at the time that this book took place) would marry someone who was practically an illiterate, barefoot and then have her be accepted by his tonnish family and friends!
I need an HR writer to create (to some degree) an illusion that the characters are behaving, have the attitudes that are consistent with the time and culture that the story takes place! This book was off the mark by light years! What a silly story in that respect!
AStR and the Slighly series that all followed this book all made better sense than this crazy story did!
August 17, 2025
4.5 stars 🌟
This is a story that keeps your interest. With two nice characters and nice secondary characters.
I have to admit I needed a tissue a few times.
This is a story that keeps your interest. With two nice characters and nice secondary characters.
I have to admit I needed a tissue a few times.
February 12, 2018
Se me ha hecho largo, llegue a un punto en que no aguantaba a Lily, que si habia sufrido mucho, que si se sentia inferior, que si no soportaba vivir constreñida por las reglas sociales, para luego darle la vuelta a la tortilla. Neville no ayuda mucho tampoco.
March 19, 2022
It’s flowery and slow paced with too perfect MCs and characters. And also has a huge trigger for me, a past rape who was not written in details but quite sad. Normally (or abnormally for normal people) I shouldn’t like the book but loved it anyway! Lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2015
Buddy read with Aly & Maru
Neville Wyatt, future Earl of Killbourne, was going through a rebellious stage when he joined the army and went off to fight in the Napoleonic war. The last thing he expected was to fall madly in love with the daughter of a common soldier and he knows deep down that there couldn't ever be a future for them. However, when her father is shot in battle he makes a promise to the dying man to protect Lily and it gives him the perfect excuse to marry her. Unfortunately when they are ambushed the following day Neville witnesses Lily being shot and believes her dead but before he can check on her he is badly injured himself. Two years later Neville is trying to put his life back together and has agreed to marry his cousin to keep his family happy. He is standing at the alter waiting for his bride when a bedraggled Lily stumbles in and halts the wedding.
Neville couldn't be more thrilled to discover that his wife is alive but Lily has been through hell since their wedding, captured and held prisoner she suffered all kinds of degradation and is sure that Neville will reject her. Neville is horrified by what she has been through and feels that he let his wife down but nothing will ever convince him that they aren't meant to be together. Lily may love him with all her heart but she wasn't expecting the splendour of his estate and she struggles to fit in with his family and friends. Lily doesn't feel good enough for him and decides to leave him for his own good and make a fresh start for herself in London. But nothing is quite what it seems and Neville isn't going to let Lily go without a fight so he becomes determined to win her back.
One Night for Love is an incredibly sweet love story, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Lily has been through so much and it was only the thought of being reunited with Neville that kept her sane so she is heartbroken when she finds he was about to marry someone else and she has no idea how she fits into his life back in England. She feels out of place, uncomfortable and convinced that Neville would be better off without her but that doesn't stop her trying to fit in. I think what I loved most about her was her courage, she is terrified of Neville's reaction when he finds out what happened to her but she is brave enough to immediately tell him what happened, then she is brave enough to do what she thinks is best and move to London without him. The romance between her and Neville is really well developed and it was easy to see why they were so good together.
Neville was a great hero, he was honourable, protective and very loving. I loved his reaction to what had happened to Lily, he never once blamed her or made her feel less than worthy of his love and he was incredibly kind and patient with her. He wanted her to be comfortable enough to be herself and refused to let his family intimidate her or try and turn her into something she wasn't, in fact I think he loved her all the more because she was so unconventional. They just fit each other perfectly and I enjoyed seeing them spend time together.
This was my first book by Mary Balogh, in fact it was my first historical romance for a couple of years, but it definitely won't be that long before I read another. I'm excited to continue reading this series and looking forward to spending time with some of the side characters we've already been introduced to.
Neville Wyatt, future Earl of Killbourne, was going through a rebellious stage when he joined the army and went off to fight in the Napoleonic war. The last thing he expected was to fall madly in love with the daughter of a common soldier and he knows deep down that there couldn't ever be a future for them. However, when her father is shot in battle he makes a promise to the dying man to protect Lily and it gives him the perfect excuse to marry her. Unfortunately when they are ambushed the following day Neville witnesses Lily being shot and believes her dead but before he can check on her he is badly injured himself. Two years later Neville is trying to put his life back together and has agreed to marry his cousin to keep his family happy. He is standing at the alter waiting for his bride when a bedraggled Lily stumbles in and halts the wedding.
Neville couldn't be more thrilled to discover that his wife is alive but Lily has been through hell since their wedding, captured and held prisoner she suffered all kinds of degradation and is sure that Neville will reject her. Neville is horrified by what she has been through and feels that he let his wife down but nothing will ever convince him that they aren't meant to be together. Lily may love him with all her heart but she wasn't expecting the splendour of his estate and she struggles to fit in with his family and friends. Lily doesn't feel good enough for him and decides to leave him for his own good and make a fresh start for herself in London. But nothing is quite what it seems and Neville isn't going to let Lily go without a fight so he becomes determined to win her back.
One Night for Love is an incredibly sweet love story, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Lily has been through so much and it was only the thought of being reunited with Neville that kept her sane so she is heartbroken when she finds he was about to marry someone else and she has no idea how she fits into his life back in England. She feels out of place, uncomfortable and convinced that Neville would be better off without her but that doesn't stop her trying to fit in. I think what I loved most about her was her courage, she is terrified of Neville's reaction when he finds out what happened to her but she is brave enough to immediately tell him what happened, then she is brave enough to do what she thinks is best and move to London without him. The romance between her and Neville is really well developed and it was easy to see why they were so good together.
Neville was a great hero, he was honourable, protective and very loving. I loved his reaction to what had happened to Lily, he never once blamed her or made her feel less than worthy of his love and he was incredibly kind and patient with her. He wanted her to be comfortable enough to be herself and refused to let his family intimidate her or try and turn her into something she wasn't, in fact I think he loved her all the more because she was so unconventional. They just fit each other perfectly and I enjoyed seeing them spend time together.
This was my first book by Mary Balogh, in fact it was my first historical romance for a couple of years, but it definitely won't be that long before I read another. I'm excited to continue reading this series and looking forward to spending time with some of the side characters we've already been introduced to.
August 2, 2017
Un inicio de serie que me ha dejado un buen sabor de boca y con curiosidad sobre lo que me voy a encontrar a continuación.
Neville y Lilly son una pareja que me ha gustado mucho su relación romántica. Ambos son amigos desde hace tiempo, y aunque su matrimonio tuvo una serie de altibajos condicionados por una serie de circunstancias que no voy a contar para no spoilear demasiado, lo cierto es que he llegado a creerme su amor y sus sentimientos.
Lo que me ha rechinado ha sido la actitud de Lilly cuando vuelve a casa con su marido y ve que no está a su mismo nivel. ¿No se podría haber ahorrado todas esas "excusas" de no te merezco porque no se leer ni escribir ni comportarme como una dama y empezar a usar sus recursos como marquesa para intentarlo? Pero claro, sino nos habríamos quedado sin novela en tres páginas...
Y otra cosa que no me ha gustado mucho ha sido el final, y no porque acabe mal, sino porque llega un punto en la historia que la autora hace que el personaje de Lilly tenga un pasado que no imaginas y que hace que todo por lo que ella estaba luchando quede un poco cuento de hadas.
Pero el líneas generales y como he dicho antes, me ha gustado y apunto la segunda precuela para leerla prontito.
Neville y Lilly son una pareja que me ha gustado mucho su relación romántica. Ambos son amigos desde hace tiempo, y aunque su matrimonio tuvo una serie de altibajos condicionados por una serie de circunstancias que no voy a contar para no spoilear demasiado, lo cierto es que he llegado a creerme su amor y sus sentimientos.
Lo que me ha rechinado ha sido la actitud de Lilly cuando vuelve a casa con su marido y ve que no está a su mismo nivel. ¿No se podría haber ahorrado todas esas "excusas" de no te merezco porque no se leer ni escribir ni comportarme como una dama y empezar a usar sus recursos como marquesa para intentarlo? Pero claro, sino nos habríamos quedado sin novela en tres páginas...
Y otra cosa que no me ha gustado mucho ha sido el final, y no porque acabe mal, sino porque llega un punto en la historia que la autora hace que el personaje de Lilly tenga un pasado que no imaginas y que hace que todo por lo que ella estaba luchando quede un poco cuento de hadas.
Pero el líneas generales y como he dicho antes, me ha gustado y apunto la segunda precuela para leerla prontito.
June 16, 2024
CW:
I was hooked as soon as I read the scene where Lily suddenly reappears in Neville’s life, right before his bride-to-be walks down the aisle! There were so many things I enjoyed about the book:
-The drama
- The depth of characterization for Neville, Lily, and Lauren
- The little cottage with a waterfall flowing into a natural pool 🥰
- The surprises
The only thing I could not understand was Neville never telling anyone about Lily. Not Lauren, his fiancee? Not his mother, or his sister? I know he gave his reason(s) why later in the book, but it was still very hard to believe.
I was hooked as soon as I read the scene where Lily suddenly reappears in Neville’s life, right before his bride-to-be walks down the aisle! There were so many things I enjoyed about the book:
-The drama
- The depth of characterization for Neville, Lily, and Lauren
- The little cottage with a waterfall flowing into a natural pool 🥰
- The surprises
The only thing I could not understand was Neville never telling anyone about Lily. Not Lauren, his fiancee? Not his mother, or his sister? I know he gave his reason(s) why later in the book, but it was still very hard to believe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2017
This was definitely my least favorite Mary Balogh book. It just did not work for me. I only pushed through to have a better background for group read of A Summer to Remember.
July 12, 2021
TW: mention of past sexual abuse.
The first prequel to the Bedwyn series and it is an enjoyable one. Neville Wyatt, captain and heir to an earldom, marries Lily Doyle the daughter of a sergeant under his command, out of compassion and duty. Hours after they wed and consummate their vows, they are attacked and Lily is assumed dead.
Two years pass—Neville has returned home to assume his title of Earl Kilbourne, while Lily (unbeknownst to Neville) has survived her injuries and held captive by the French. After seven months of abuse, she finally returns to England to search for her husband Neville, out only to find him standing at the alter waiting to wed someone else… 😱
This book had quite a few plot twists for a Mary Balogh book and it was not a bad thing at all! There is still her brilliantly developed characters and signature gentle descriptive writing which reminds me why I love reading her books, and HR in general. I liked the tastefully done intrigue and suspense that went along with Lily’s journey. I saw some parts of this book as a loose Cinderella retelling; Lily goes through a metamorphosis—physically, emotionally and intellectually—grows into herself, and Neville’s feelings for her matures from a sense of duty and lust to true adoration and love.
He had thought himself recovered from his wounds. She looked as if she had none. But perhaps in reality they were two wounded people who must somehow find pardon and peace and healing together.
💕💕💕
A whole bunch of secondary characters with their own character arcs. Lauren Edgeworth, Neville’s step cousin and jilted bride gets a big set up for the next book which I’m hoping to read soon!
The first prequel to the Bedwyn series and it is an enjoyable one. Neville Wyatt, captain and heir to an earldom, marries Lily Doyle the daughter of a sergeant under his command, out of compassion and duty. Hours after they wed and consummate their vows, they are attacked and Lily is assumed dead.
Two years pass—Neville has returned home to assume his title of Earl Kilbourne, while Lily (unbeknownst to Neville) has survived her injuries and held captive by the French. After seven months of abuse, she finally returns to England to search for her husband Neville, out only to find him standing at the alter waiting to wed someone else… 😱
This book had quite a few plot twists for a Mary Balogh book and it was not a bad thing at all! There is still her brilliantly developed characters and signature gentle descriptive writing which reminds me why I love reading her books, and HR in general. I liked the tastefully done intrigue and suspense that went along with Lily’s journey. I saw some parts of this book as a loose Cinderella retelling; Lily goes through a metamorphosis—physically, emotionally and intellectually—grows into herself, and Neville’s feelings for her matures from a sense of duty and lust to true adoration and love.
He had thought himself recovered from his wounds. She looked as if she had none. But perhaps in reality they were two wounded people who must somehow find pardon and peace and healing together.
💕💕💕
A whole bunch of secondary characters with their own character arcs. Lauren Edgeworth, Neville’s step cousin and jilted bride gets a big set up for the next book which I’m hoping to read soon!
May 24, 2017
What a unique and well-written story! I thought Lily, the heroine, was very strong-willed and intelligent. She was very kind, too. Watching her grow into the person she was meant to be was great. The hero, Neville, was also smart, very protective of those he considered family, and very honorable. If there is one big fault I have with this book, it is that I wish his character had been explored more. Still, I liked him and Lily together. There was a mystery that I found very well-done, as I was wrong about who the villain was. I know some of the characters from this story get their own books, and I'm excited to read them, particularly Gwen and Joseph's. I'm not too sure about Lauren's, although her book is next. I will say, though, that I loved Elizabeth and how she mentored Lily. The secondary romance in this story was great, too. Overall, I thought this was a really special and memorable book. Mary Balogh's writing places me firmly in the Regency, and makes me remember why I love historical romance.
December 21, 2016
I like Lily, I give her 5 stars and only 3 stars for Neville.
I don't like him much:(
The storyline rather dark for this one, the whole situation really bad because the hero is weak, his decision destroyed the women who love him.
He lied to everyone to suit his need, I know he loves Lily but his action incredibly selfish!
Halfway in the story I'm glad Lily left him, because I couldn't convince with his love declarations to her. But I do believe him later on.
Note, if you have rape trigger, you probably need to avoid this book, our heroine been tortured and raped for months. No ugly description but it mentioned and you got a flashback couple of times.
I wanted to read Lauren's story now, the jilted bride.
She is very gracious in the whole situation, poor thing!
Neville might not love her but she think she love him so I'm glad she will get her own hero in the next book:)
I don't like him much:(
The storyline rather dark for this one, the whole situation really bad because the hero is weak, his decision destroyed the women who love him.
He lied to everyone to suit his need, I know he loves Lily but his action incredibly selfish!
Halfway in the story I'm glad Lily left him, because I couldn't convince with his love declarations to her. But I do believe him later on.
Note, if you have rape trigger, you probably need to avoid this book, our heroine been tortured and raped for months. No ugly description but it mentioned and you got a flashback couple of times.
I wanted to read Lauren's story now, the jilted bride.
She is very gracious in the whole situation, poor thing!
Neville might not love her but she think she love him so I'm glad she will get her own hero in the next book:)
November 30, 2012
Foi um prazer ler Uma Noite de Amor. Apreciar como a sua autora, Mary Balogh, construiu a partir de um argumento pouco original e até bastante previsível uma história tão enternecedora, apresentando-nos personagens verdadeiramente encantadoras.
O período histórico não podia ser dos melhores - para nosso deleite -, início do século XIX. Lily e Neville pertencem a estratos sociais muito diferentes e, consequentemente, incompatíveis: ele é um conde e ela é uma jovem iletrada, sem a educação ou talentos típicos de uma dama da época; não sabe conversar como uma senhora e certamente não saberá estar no meio delas.
O destino, caprichoso como apenas ele sabe ser, acaba por juntar Lily e Neville em matrimónio. Uma decisão tomada por conveniência, para proteger Lily, mas também, e em última instância, por amor…Neville planeia ser o mundo de Lily, a sua felicidade e a sua vida. Mas as coisas raramente saem de acordo com os planos… e o mesmo destino que os juntou, irá separá-los apenas 24h depois de casarem, quando Lily é dada como morta.
…E só poderá ser por obra do destino, aliado à sua vil colega, a coincidência, que Lily consegue chegar a Neville...no dia do seu casamento…com outra mulher.
O livro começa assim de forma tão chocantemente intrigante que pousá-lo se torna um aborrecimento. A escrita de Mary Balogh é melíflua e melodiosa, emprestando o seu encanto a uma já de si fabulosa descrição de ambientes e personagens.
O embate que todas as personagens sentem aquando do aparecimento de Lily no casamento de Neville torna-se electrizante também para o leitor, especialmente porque Neville optou por omitir da sua família aquele pequeno interlúdio da sua vida passada.
Não são apenas os protagonistas que enriquecem a história, são também todas as outras personagens e a trama secundária que se desenvolve em torno da principal. A componente mistério garante a conservação da atenção e interesse na leitura - afinal que terá Lily perdido quando desapareceu a mochila que o pai lhe deixou ao morrer e que afirmou garantir-lhe segurança futura?! E quem raio poderá andar a tentar matá-la?! E, já agora, porquê?!
A estruturação de «Uma Noite de Amor» está muito bem conseguida: depois do alívio de os ver juntos chegamos à triste e desesperante conclusão que nunca seriam felizes tal como estavam…Balogh puxa-nos outra vez o tapete…Depois de uma jornada tão sofrida, Lily está mais longe do que nunca do seu sonho. Parece que, afinal, já não era «o amor do seu coração».
A autora deixa-nos a tentar debater e lidar com as nossas ambivalências de afeições entre três pessoas, todas elas de alguma forma feridas: Lily, Neville e Lauren; sem que nenhuma possa ser realmente culpabilizada pelo rumo que os acontecimentos tomaram. Lily, depois de tanto sofrer, não tem para onde ir mas não pode, ou não quer, ficar; Lauren é uma noiva rejeitada e humilhada que viu as suas esperanças e sonhos de toda a vida serem destruídos, com um carácter tão desapaixonado e terno que lhe impede uma sublevação digna; e Neville que vive soterrado pela culpa em vez de perceber as verdadeiras necessidades da sua esposa. Estava tudo tão errado.
Com subtileza e astúcia, Mary Balogh coloca-nos esta questão: será que o amor, com a sua doce força, conquista mesmo tudo? Ou, sozinho, nunca poderá ser o suficiente?
Mary Balogh
O período histórico não podia ser dos melhores - para nosso deleite -, início do século XIX. Lily e Neville pertencem a estratos sociais muito diferentes e, consequentemente, incompatíveis: ele é um conde e ela é uma jovem iletrada, sem a educação ou talentos típicos de uma dama da época; não sabe conversar como uma senhora e certamente não saberá estar no meio delas.
O destino, caprichoso como apenas ele sabe ser, acaba por juntar Lily e Neville em matrimónio. Uma decisão tomada por conveniência, para proteger Lily, mas também, e em última instância, por amor…Neville planeia ser o mundo de Lily, a sua felicidade e a sua vida. Mas as coisas raramente saem de acordo com os planos… e o mesmo destino que os juntou, irá separá-los apenas 24h depois de casarem, quando Lily é dada como morta.
…E só poderá ser por obra do destino, aliado à sua vil colega, a coincidência, que Lily consegue chegar a Neville...no dia do seu casamento…com outra mulher.
O livro começa assim de forma tão chocantemente intrigante que pousá-lo se torna um aborrecimento. A escrita de Mary Balogh é melíflua e melodiosa, emprestando o seu encanto a uma já de si fabulosa descrição de ambientes e personagens.
O embate que todas as personagens sentem aquando do aparecimento de Lily no casamento de Neville torna-se electrizante também para o leitor, especialmente porque Neville optou por omitir da sua família aquele pequeno interlúdio da sua vida passada.
Não são apenas os protagonistas que enriquecem a história, são também todas as outras personagens e a trama secundária que se desenvolve em torno da principal. A componente mistério garante a conservação da atenção e interesse na leitura - afinal que terá Lily perdido quando desapareceu a mochila que o pai lhe deixou ao morrer e que afirmou garantir-lhe segurança futura?! E quem raio poderá andar a tentar matá-la?! E, já agora, porquê?!
A estruturação de «Uma Noite de Amor» está muito bem conseguida: depois do alívio de os ver juntos chegamos à triste e desesperante conclusão que nunca seriam felizes tal como estavam…Balogh puxa-nos outra vez o tapete…Depois de uma jornada tão sofrida, Lily está mais longe do que nunca do seu sonho. Parece que, afinal, já não era «o amor do seu coração».
A autora deixa-nos a tentar debater e lidar com as nossas ambivalências de afeições entre três pessoas, todas elas de alguma forma feridas: Lily, Neville e Lauren; sem que nenhuma possa ser realmente culpabilizada pelo rumo que os acontecimentos tomaram. Lily, depois de tanto sofrer, não tem para onde ir mas não pode, ou não quer, ficar; Lauren é uma noiva rejeitada e humilhada que viu as suas esperanças e sonhos de toda a vida serem destruídos, com um carácter tão desapaixonado e terno que lhe impede uma sublevação digna; e Neville que vive soterrado pela culpa em vez de perceber as verdadeiras necessidades da sua esposa. Estava tudo tão errado.
Com subtileza e astúcia, Mary Balogh coloca-nos esta questão: será que o amor, com a sua doce força, conquista mesmo tudo? Ou, sozinho, nunca poderá ser o suficiente?
Mary Balogh
July 11, 2020
Kada je ljubić, neka je period romance.
Naravno da je jako loše, ali je baš zato jako zabavno i volim s vremena na vreme da se upustim u ovako nešto kada mi treba da odmorim mozak. Vratilo me u osnovnu školu kada sam sa bakom razmenjivala romane sa trafike i Amandu Kvik kojom smo bile opsednute (bar dok smo dolazile do knjiga u kojima se nije previše ponavljala), a obavezno je moralo da se dešava u viktorijanskoj Engleskoj. Krivim taj period života i ta bezbrižna leta za mnoga nerealna očekivanja koja imam danas. Jebeš lika ako nije grof ili erl spreman da se upusti sa mnom u vrtlog strasti i rešavanje neke misterije.
Ovo je poslednja knjiga koju smo razmenile. ♥
Naravno da je jako loše, ali je baš zato jako zabavno i volim s vremena na vreme da se upustim u ovako nešto kada mi treba da odmorim mozak. Vratilo me u osnovnu školu kada sam sa bakom razmenjivala romane sa trafike i Amandu Kvik kojom smo bile opsednute (bar dok smo dolazile do knjiga u kojima se nije previše ponavljala), a obavezno je moralo da se dešava u viktorijanskoj Engleskoj. Krivim taj period života i ta bezbrižna leta za mnoga nerealna očekivanja koja imam danas. Jebeš lika ako nije grof ili erl spreman da se upusti sa mnom u vrtlog strasti i rešavanje neke misterije.
Ovo je poslednja knjiga koju smo razmenile. ♥
July 28, 2013
I'm surprised to see that many people rated this story so highly.
Yes, it was sweet (and at times, bittersweet), but for the most part, it was oh-so-boring. Took me almost a month of stops and starts, but FINALLY finished it. Didn't DISlike it, but it lacked passion. And not just in the obvious sense.
Yes, it was sweet (and at times, bittersweet), but for the most part, it was oh-so-boring. Took me almost a month of stops and starts, but FINALLY finished it. Didn't DISlike it, but it lacked passion. And not just in the obvious sense.
March 29, 2019
I've read many books from Mrs Balough and loved all of them because of her particular writing style, character-development, and basically because I can lose myself in her world.
This book was the exception. I couldn't connect with the characters, didn't get in the story, didn't feel with the characters.
This book was the exception. I couldn't connect with the characters, didn't get in the story, didn't feel with the characters.
October 12, 2010
One Night for Love is my very first Mary Balogh read, and I assure you, it wouldn’t be my last.
One Night for Love is an overwhelming love story, in it being wonderful and extraordinary. It was overwhelming that it made me dizzy. But don’t get me wrong, I was dizzy in a good way.
Neville Wyatt, the new Earl of Kilbourne, was born into a respectable family. Everything was planned for him. Up to the simple things to even his future wife. His life was completely drawn for him. Until he rebelled and joined the infantry.
At the middle of the field, he met Sergeant Thomas Doyle of the Ninety-fifth Infantry, along with Doyle’s daughter, Lily. He falls for her and her sunny disposition. But they wouldn’t work. After the war, Neville had to go back. Back to the life that was planned for him.
Until he was given the excuse to do otherwise. Sergeant Thomas Doyle was shot and at his dying hour, he asked Neville to protect Lily. And to do so, he had to marry Lily, since marriage to an officer confers respect even from the enemies.
Neville and Lily marry. It was a love match, despite circumstances of war and recent death. They share a night of love and wedded bliss. But things just weren’t meant to happen immediately. Neville witnesses Lily being shot. He believes she has died. And before he was given a chance to thoroughly check, he gets shot too.
Neville goes back to his previous life as an earl. And just about as he was to marry his cousin Lauren, a woman in rags comes barging to the church. To Neville’s astonishment, it is his wife, Lily.
At Lily's arrival at Newbury Abbey, Lily realizes that her plain self is not enough to be an Earl's wife. She believes love is not enough. And again, fate works against them, as a series of truths, that I do not wish to disclose, since it would spoil your reading experience come hurling between them.
Lily is a very likeable character. She is illiterate, but she is wise. She is a carefree spirit, daughter of an ordinary soldier, a girl trying to be a lady and someone who just wants to fit in.
She becomes all three without suppressing the person she really is. She learns to read and write, play the pianoforte and talk to the ton, which is admirable. Her desire to learn is inspiring.
However, there is an overwhelming number of minor characters that shook me to the core, that I had trouble with who’s who, thus giving me nausea. But I’m not complaining, since this book is a wonderful start to what I heard is a very beautiful series.
And maybe, just maybe, in between reading the rest of the series, I might find someone who would love me as Neville loved Lily, and tell me these words too:
One Night for Love is an overwhelming love story, in it being wonderful and extraordinary. It was overwhelming that it made me dizzy. But don’t get me wrong, I was dizzy in a good way.
Neville Wyatt, the new Earl of Kilbourne, was born into a respectable family. Everything was planned for him. Up to the simple things to even his future wife. His life was completely drawn for him. Until he rebelled and joined the infantry.
At the middle of the field, he met Sergeant Thomas Doyle of the Ninety-fifth Infantry, along with Doyle’s daughter, Lily. He falls for her and her sunny disposition. But they wouldn’t work. After the war, Neville had to go back. Back to the life that was planned for him.
Until he was given the excuse to do otherwise. Sergeant Thomas Doyle was shot and at his dying hour, he asked Neville to protect Lily. And to do so, he had to marry Lily, since marriage to an officer confers respect even from the enemies.
Neville and Lily marry. It was a love match, despite circumstances of war and recent death. They share a night of love and wedded bliss. But things just weren’t meant to happen immediately. Neville witnesses Lily being shot. He believes she has died. And before he was given a chance to thoroughly check, he gets shot too.
Neville goes back to his previous life as an earl. And just about as he was to marry his cousin Lauren, a woman in rags comes barging to the church. To Neville’s astonishment, it is his wife, Lily.
At Lily's arrival at Newbury Abbey, Lily realizes that her plain self is not enough to be an Earl's wife. She believes love is not enough. And again, fate works against them, as a series of truths, that I do not wish to disclose, since it would spoil your reading experience come hurling between them.
Lily is a very likeable character. She is illiterate, but she is wise. She is a carefree spirit, daughter of an ordinary soldier, a girl trying to be a lady and someone who just wants to fit in.
"I am Lily Doyle," she said, "and Lady Frances Lilian Montague. And Lily Wyatt, Countess of Kilbourne. I am all three."
She becomes all three without suppressing the person she really is. She learns to read and write, play the pianoforte and talk to the ton, which is admirable. Her desire to learn is inspiring.
However, there is an overwhelming number of minor characters that shook me to the core, that I had trouble with who’s who, thus giving me nausea. But I’m not complaining, since this book is a wonderful start to what I heard is a very beautiful series.
And maybe, just maybe, in between reading the rest of the series, I might find someone who would love me as Neville loved Lily, and tell me these words too:
”…some things are unchanged and unchangeable. I loved you when I married you. I love you today. I will love you with my dying breath. I have loved you and will love you during every moment between those spans.”
February 10, 2020
One Night for Love is not a personal favorite of Balogh's novels. In fact, I actually very strongly considered DNFing about a third of the way through. But I am very glad that I listened to reviews and pushed on at that point, because this is a thoughtful and sweet romance that stands out in some interesting ways that made it well worth the time I spent.
The heroine Lily shows up at a church to interrupt the proceedings, revealing that the groom was already married to her. It sounds dramatic, and it is, rather, but not in the way you'd expect. Neville thought his wife, Lily, died; they'd married swiftly on the battlefield almost, and she had been struck by a bullet the next day. She survived, barely, but ended up imprisoned for over a year in Portugal.
Now back, Neville calls off the wedding, even though he suspects their marriage may not have been entirely legal (due to the death of the man of the cloth who administered it before he could make the union official). He's thrilled to have Lily back, but the whole thing is awkward. He doesn't want to push her because of what she's been through (trigger warning: rape), and his family and friends don't understand why he wants to keep her as his countess.
One of the things that makes this novel lovely and unique is that Neville is steadfast in his love of her. Never for one moment is he embarrassed of her, even though she doesn't come from the expected class. Lily can't read or play the piano and she doesn't behave properly. Neville loves all of this about her; he doesn't love her in spite of who she is, but for everything she is. It's also amazing that the book wrestles with the fact that, by loving her just as he is, he comes close to holding her back from making changes that she wants for herself, because he doesn't need her to change. He's incredibly sweet, even when she needs her space to investigate her new identity.
Lily's truly a charming heroine. She's an example of quiet strength. At first, she comes off as almost Pollyanna-ish with her purity in spite of everything and her unerring kindness. In time, though, you get to see that she has a strong sense of herself and will defend her right to be herself and make her own choices. This romance is one of few that pulls off the "I need to take a break to find myself" trope really effectively, partially because there's no resentment from either of them.
This isn't a bantery, adorable romance, but it's a really strong one in terms of characters, and I'm very glad I read it. Neville and Lily have some truly sweet moments, and there are various plot aspects that feel quite unique.
P.S. If you look at my reading dates, this took me over a month, but it had to go back to the library in the middle, so I couldn't read it at all for a few weeks in the middle there. It wasn't a quick read for me, but it wasn't as slow as it might seem by those dates.
The heroine Lily shows up at a church to interrupt the proceedings, revealing that the groom was already married to her. It sounds dramatic, and it is, rather, but not in the way you'd expect. Neville thought his wife, Lily, died; they'd married swiftly on the battlefield almost, and she had been struck by a bullet the next day. She survived, barely, but ended up imprisoned for over a year in Portugal.
Now back, Neville calls off the wedding, even though he suspects their marriage may not have been entirely legal (due to the death of the man of the cloth who administered it before he could make the union official). He's thrilled to have Lily back, but the whole thing is awkward. He doesn't want to push her because of what she's been through (trigger warning: rape), and his family and friends don't understand why he wants to keep her as his countess.
One of the things that makes this novel lovely and unique is that Neville is steadfast in his love of her. Never for one moment is he embarrassed of her, even though she doesn't come from the expected class. Lily can't read or play the piano and she doesn't behave properly. Neville loves all of this about her; he doesn't love her in spite of who she is, but for everything she is. It's also amazing that the book wrestles with the fact that, by loving her just as he is, he comes close to holding her back from making changes that she wants for herself, because he doesn't need her to change. He's incredibly sweet, even when she needs her space to investigate her new identity.
Lily's truly a charming heroine. She's an example of quiet strength. At first, she comes off as almost Pollyanna-ish with her purity in spite of everything and her unerring kindness. In time, though, you get to see that she has a strong sense of herself and will defend her right to be herself and make her own choices. This romance is one of few that pulls off the "I need to take a break to find myself" trope really effectively, partially because there's no resentment from either of them.
This isn't a bantery, adorable romance, but it's a really strong one in terms of characters, and I'm very glad I read it. Neville and Lily have some truly sweet moments, and there are various plot aspects that feel quite unique.
P.S. If you look at my reading dates, this took me over a month, but it had to go back to the library in the middle, so I couldn't read it at all for a few weeks in the middle there. It wasn't a quick read for me, but it wasn't as slow as it might seem by those dates.
March 19, 2012
Neville Wyatt, conde de Kilbourne, espera para sua noiva, Lauren, no altar da Igreja, mas é a sua, até então falecida mulher, Lily Doyle que aparece.
Ao contrário de Neville, Lily é uma plebeia sem sangue azul, de posição inferior à de Neville, tornando o seu casamento ultrajante perante a nata da sociedade inglesa... ou assim pensa ela, até conhecer Lyndon.
A família de Neville, dividida entre a necessidade de odiar Lily, favorecendo Lauren, e a crescente ternura a favor da jovem filha do sargento de Kilbourne, mantém-se num constante conflito emocional.
Lauren, apática e renegada por Neville, alimenta a esperança de que tudo se resolverá e que casará com o conde, assim que recebe a notícia que o casamento de Neville e Lily, em Portugal, não tem validade, visto não haverem testemunhas ou qualquer registo do mesmo... mas embora para Lauren e restantes esta notícia seja deveras importante, levando à separação do casal, nos corações do par, a situação nãp é assim tão relevante, devido ao amor que nutrem um pelo outro.
Conseguirá Lily mostrar-se à altura da posição de Neville?
Conseguirão descobrir quem é o misterioso homem de capa preta que tenta matar Lily por várias vezes? E o que o motiva a fazer tal coisa?
Sendo a minha estreia em Mary Balogh, devo dizer que a autora me cativou, embora a ortografia tenha ficado um pouco atrás.
Personagens encantadoras e uma estória com bom gosto, de leitura rápida e fácil, e de uma leveza fascinante, ideal para um fim-de-semana solarengo.
Embora não sendo trazendo nada de inovador, é um romance encantador e muito agradável.
Um pouco confuso no início, no que respeita a Neville, confundindo o leitor em relação aos seus sentimentos por Lily e Lauren, mas que se vem a mostrar uma personagem de grande carácter, devoção e interessante, tanto pela sua postura como pela sua doçura.
Lily foi a personagem que mais me entusiasmou, pois pude rever-me um pouco nela, na sua personalidade forte e corajosa, mas aos mesmo tempo atenciosa e aplicada, capaz de uma grande ternura e amor.
Por sua vez, Lauren foi uma desilusão, não que esperasse que se tornasse na vilã da trama, mas a sua apatia e indiferença fingidos, frustrou-me.
Elizabeth e Lyndon surpreenderam-me pela positiva, e dou graças à autora por tal, pois conseguiu manter estas duas personagens na sombra, não revelando ao leitor se eram bem intencionados ou não até ao final.
"Uma Noite de Amor" é um romance histórico rico e interessante, que desafia os corações românticos.
Ao contrário de Neville, Lily é uma plebeia sem sangue azul, de posição inferior à de Neville, tornando o seu casamento ultrajante perante a nata da sociedade inglesa... ou assim pensa ela, até conhecer Lyndon.
A família de Neville, dividida entre a necessidade de odiar Lily, favorecendo Lauren, e a crescente ternura a favor da jovem filha do sargento de Kilbourne, mantém-se num constante conflito emocional.
Lauren, apática e renegada por Neville, alimenta a esperança de que tudo se resolverá e que casará com o conde, assim que recebe a notícia que o casamento de Neville e Lily, em Portugal, não tem validade, visto não haverem testemunhas ou qualquer registo do mesmo... mas embora para Lauren e restantes esta notícia seja deveras importante, levando à separação do casal, nos corações do par, a situação nãp é assim tão relevante, devido ao amor que nutrem um pelo outro.
Conseguirá Lily mostrar-se à altura da posição de Neville?
Conseguirão descobrir quem é o misterioso homem de capa preta que tenta matar Lily por várias vezes? E o que o motiva a fazer tal coisa?
Sendo a minha estreia em Mary Balogh, devo dizer que a autora me cativou, embora a ortografia tenha ficado um pouco atrás.
Personagens encantadoras e uma estória com bom gosto, de leitura rápida e fácil, e de uma leveza fascinante, ideal para um fim-de-semana solarengo.
Embora não sendo trazendo nada de inovador, é um romance encantador e muito agradável.
Um pouco confuso no início, no que respeita a Neville, confundindo o leitor em relação aos seus sentimentos por Lily e Lauren, mas que se vem a mostrar uma personagem de grande carácter, devoção e interessante, tanto pela sua postura como pela sua doçura.
Lily foi a personagem que mais me entusiasmou, pois pude rever-me um pouco nela, na sua personalidade forte e corajosa, mas aos mesmo tempo atenciosa e aplicada, capaz de uma grande ternura e amor.
Por sua vez, Lauren foi uma desilusão, não que esperasse que se tornasse na vilã da trama, mas a sua apatia e indiferença fingidos, frustrou-me.
Elizabeth e Lyndon surpreenderam-me pela positiva, e dou graças à autora por tal, pois conseguiu manter estas duas personagens na sombra, não revelando ao leitor se eram bem intencionados ou não até ao final.
"Uma Noite de Amor" é um romance histórico rico e interessante, que desafia os corações românticos.
June 5, 2014
What the hell was this even about? I finished it yesterday and what I basically remember is that the heroine was an earthy illiterate fairy child and the hero was a starchy Earl or something? They get married while overseas during The War and end up thinking the other is dead for a while and then the heroine shows up on the doorstep of the hero's wedding. Then after telling everyone that they're married, it turns out that they're not REALLY married, and there's a bunch of plot devices to show how ridiculous society can be and how sometimes bettering yourself is something you have to do on your own.
1. First: I liked the self-improvement arc, but the fact that it's discovered that the heroine is some long-lost daughter of another member of the Ton cast this really gross pall over everything? Like, she wasn't going to be able to improve herself ~~properly without that pedigree? Or that even with all those improvements, she was still somehow ~~dirty?? I don't know. It just didn't sit with me.
2. The only character's name I really remember is Lauren's and that is for two reasons: a) I honestly felt for her. Her story was one I was originally interested in because being cast aside like that--ouch. How does one come back from that? How does one go about finding love and feeling whole after watching your devoted fiance cast you aside? b) I didn't quite recognize how this was a prequel to the Bedwyn books until I read the description of the next prequel and realized that Lauren is Kit's husband. UGH. UGH. Here is my theory: Balogh fell for Lauren. Lauren hit some nerve in Balogh that made writing anyone who opposed her difficult. Which explains Free's book, in some capacity.
3. I AM SO SICK OF HEROINES WHO ARE SO ~~UNCONVENTIONAL BUT EVERYONE FALLS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST SO ~~SPECIAL. Suck it.
1. First: I liked the self-improvement arc, but the fact that it's discovered that the heroine is some long-lost daughter of another member of the Ton cast this really gross pall over everything? Like, she wasn't going to be able to improve herself ~~properly without that pedigree? Or that even with all those improvements, she was still somehow ~~dirty?? I don't know. It just didn't sit with me.
2. The only character's name I really remember is Lauren's and that is for two reasons: a) I honestly felt for her. Her story was one I was originally interested in because being cast aside like that--ouch. How does one come back from that? How does one go about finding love and feeling whole after watching your devoted fiance cast you aside? b) I didn't quite recognize how this was a prequel to the Bedwyn books until I read the description of the next prequel and realized that Lauren is Kit's husband. UGH. UGH. Here is my theory: Balogh fell for Lauren. Lauren hit some nerve in Balogh that made writing anyone who opposed her difficult. Which explains Free's book, in some capacity.
3. I AM SO SICK OF HEROINES WHO ARE SO ~~UNCONVENTIONAL BUT EVERYONE FALLS FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE JUST SO ~~SPECIAL. Suck it.
September 2, 2021
SERIE BEDWIN PREQUEL
Trovato per caso su una bancarella “tutto ad 1€” al mare non me lo sono fatto scappare.
Dopo un inizio scoppiettante, con una Lily che irrompe durante il matrimonio di Neville dichiarando di essere sua moglie, verso la metà mi sono ritrovata un po’ annoiata trascinando così la lettura.
Doppio finale molto dolce, ma pensavo mi coinvolgesse di più.
Ad ogni modo adesso sono curiosa di leggere i seguiti. Li ho visti in eBook su Amazon e mi stanno tentando.
Trovato per caso su una bancarella “tutto ad 1€” al mare non me lo sono fatto scappare.
Dopo un inizio scoppiettante, con una Lily che irrompe durante il matrimonio di Neville dichiarando di essere sua moglie, verso la metà mi sono ritrovata un po’ annoiata trascinando così la lettura.
Doppio finale molto dolce, ma pensavo mi coinvolgesse di più.
Ad ogni modo adesso sono curiosa di leggere i seguiti. Li ho visti in eBook su Amazon e mi stanno tentando.
January 2, 2021
Balogh has an interesting style, doesn't she? I was not totally convinced when I read my first book by her, but this one felt utterly perfect for the moment. I adored the free-spirited and joyful (but not at the cost of her being realistic) heroine, and the hero was...doting. Devoted. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.
3.75
3.75
August 12, 2012
It's taken nearly a year, but I've finally read all the books in Mary Balogh's Bedwyn World -- the Bedwyn Saga/Slightly series, the related Simply series, and now the prequels. For the most part, I've enjoyed them all, and One Night for Love is no exception.
On the surface, this book is full of historical romance cliches -- a secret wedding in Portugal, the "dead" first wife showing up at her husband's second wedding, a secret lost child, rags-to-riches, love between upper and lower class, a shadowy villain -- but Mary Balogh writes such engaging characters that the cliches actually work.
Lily and Neville are a delightful, heart-breaking couple. She's the daughter of a sergeant, and he's an earl. And when Mary Balogh writes a lower-class heroine, she does it up right. Lily is utterly uneducated; she cannot read or write or do sums. She knows nothing of history and has never heard of Bach or Beethoven. She truly has no idea which fork to use. But Neville loves her and wants to protect her from the haughty stares of the ton. Lily is proud, however, and doesn't want to be an object of pity.
If I were advising a new reader just discovering historical romance, I would recommend without hesitation all the books in Bedwyn World, beginning with this one. The entire series covers about ten years or so and the later books feature cameos from earlier characters. It's lots of fun to see their romances, marriages, and families over time.
And now, in her latest book, The Proposal, Ms. Balogh features Lady Gwen, the hero's sister and a minor character in this book. I look forward to reading it.
On the surface, this book is full of historical romance cliches -- a secret wedding in Portugal, the "dead" first wife showing up at her husband's second wedding, a secret lost child, rags-to-riches, love between upper and lower class, a shadowy villain -- but Mary Balogh writes such engaging characters that the cliches actually work.
Lily and Neville are a delightful, heart-breaking couple. She's the daughter of a sergeant, and he's an earl. And when Mary Balogh writes a lower-class heroine, she does it up right. Lily is utterly uneducated; she cannot read or write or do sums. She knows nothing of history and has never heard of Bach or Beethoven. She truly has no idea which fork to use. But Neville loves her and wants to protect her from the haughty stares of the ton. Lily is proud, however, and doesn't want to be an object of pity.
If I were advising a new reader just discovering historical romance, I would recommend without hesitation all the books in Bedwyn World, beginning with this one. The entire series covers about ten years or so and the later books feature cameos from earlier characters. It's lots of fun to see their romances, marriages, and families over time.
And now, in her latest book, The Proposal, Ms. Balogh features Lady Gwen, the hero's sister and a minor character in this book. I look forward to reading it.
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