Mary Balogh Message Board 1/29/2010 1:15:35 PM
Talk about the novels, new and used books that
Balogh has written!
Author Balogh's Book
Reviews
A Certain Magic
Alice Penhallow, a widow in her early 30s, quietly lives in Bath, until her brother asks her to come to London to look after his younger children while he and his wife focus on the coming-out of their eldest daughter. In London, Alice meets her childhood friend, Piers Westhaven. Alice's late husband, Webster, and Piers were best friends. When Piers was 20, he was in love with Alice and wanted to marry her, but Web asked her first and she accepted. For ... A Chance Encounter
Elizabeth Rossiter had been in love once with Robert Denning, who married her, made love to her, then abandoned her. His powerful family informed her that the marriage had been annuled but Elizabeth's reputation was in ruins. Her position as a companion to the daughter of a wealthy family has let her live a quiet and obscure life until Robert, who has now become the Marquess of Hetherington, moves into the neighborhood.
Robert cannot believe it when... A Christmas Promise
Randolph Pierce, the new Earl of Falloden, needs money quickly or he will lose Grenfell Park, the debt-ridden home of his youth. The former earl was a spendthrift. To his surprise, a coal merchant tells him he has bought all of Randolph's debts and will forgive them as well as give him half of his considerable fortune if Randolph will marry his daughter. With much reluctance, Randolph accepts the coal merchant's terms. He will wed Eleanor Transome, a ... A Counterfeit Betrothal
Lady Sophia Bryant is in Regency London for her first season when she comes up with a plan to reunite her estranged parents. She pretends to be betrothed to Lord Francis Sutton, son of a duke and a bit of a rake. She's known Francis all her life and he agrees to pretend they are in love. Her parents cannot reject his suit outright; Francis is the son of one of their oldest friends. Instead, Sophie's parents, Marcus and Olivia, must meet to consult eac...
Balogh booklist
A Gift of Daisies
Lady Rachel Palmer, is beautiful, wealthy and sought after by all the men. She loves the attention that her looks and fashionable clothing bring to her but she has never known love until she meets the one man who resists her charms, Reverend David Gower.
David, as a modest man, does not even try to compete for Rachel's hand. He cannot afford an aristocratic wife. So he gives no indication to Rachel that he is attracted to her and that he is falling... A Masked Deception
Set during the French Revolution, Richard Adair, Seventh Earl of Bramption must marry to set up his nursery. Unknown to him, his bride-to-be in this marriage of convenience, is the lost love. The masked lady he has never forgotten during the past 6 years. Margaret Wells, suffering through an unemotional honeymoon with Richard, is determined to woo her husband back, by becoming the woman he lost so long ago. What will happen when and if he discovers her r... A Precious Jewel
Sir Gerald Stapleton is a regular customer of Priscilla Wentworth at a high class brothel. Priscilla was a lady, but poverty has left her with prostitution as the only way she can earn her living. When Sir Gerald asks her to become his mistress, she accepts.
Gerald is a very average man whose father belittled him and crushed his self confidence. He covers his feelings of inadequacy by treating his relationship with Priscilla in a cold business-like ma... A Promise of Spring
Grace Howard appears to be alone and destitute when her brother, the vicar, dies. Sir Peregrine Lampman was her brother's friend and offers to marry her although he doesn't love her. She tells him she had a child out of wedlock who died, but they agree to a marriage of convenience and settle down to life in rural Regency England.
They are a mismatched pair. She is dark, serious and quiet. He is fair haired, 10 years younger, friendly and flirtatiou... A Summer to Remember
After being jilted at the alter, Lauren Edgeworth decides that she will never marry. She travels to London to be a companion to her pregnant friend, and during her one and only ball she decides to attend, she is introduced to Kit Butler, an infamous member of the ton. Kit, who is now heir due to his brother's death, has decided to find a bride and bring her home in an effort to foil his father's choice of a bride for him. Kit, who was told that La... An Unacceptable Offer
Jane Matthews does not have great marriage prospects since she is not wealthy, titled or beautiful, but she is pleasant, capable with children and not a social butterfly. Michael Templeton, Viscount Fairfax is looking for a second wife. He married his first wife for love and then discovered they had no interests in common. She hated life in the country and had no interest in raising their two girls. This time, Michael proposes marriage to the surprise...
Mary Balogh list of books
An Unlikely Duchess
Josephine Middleton's parents arrange for her marriage to the Duke of Mitford. Josephine or Jo is told the Duke is a tall, handsome rake and she just hates the idea, particularly his being tall, since she is very petite. She decides to go to her aunt's house to avoid the Duke's proposal. Mr. Porterhouse offers to escort her, but he arranges to have them stranded at an inn where he tries to force Jo to marry him.
Luckily, Jo is rescued from Porter... Christmas Beau
Max was engaged to Judith Blakeford. But then she eloped with Andrew Easton. Judith found Max cold and forbidding, while Andrew promised romance. Marriage with Andrew did not turn out happy. He was an unfaithful drunk. Eight years later, Judith, now widowed, returns to London, and meets Max, now the Marquess of Denbigh. Seeing Judith, Max thinks he wants revenge.
Max ensures that he meets Judith as frequently as possible. He charms her children an... Courting Julia
When Julia Maynard's step-grandfather died, he leaves her his beautiful estate home on the condition that one of his five nephews marries her within a month after the reading of his will. So begins the courting of Julia by Augustus, Malcolm, Lesley and Freddie. But the fifth nephew, Daniel, refuses to enter the contest.
Julia has known all of her suitors for a long time but the only one who has her love is Daniel. But he disapproves of everything s... Dancing with Clara
Clara Danford agrees to marry Frederick Sullivan, though she knows his reputation and that he is only marrying her for her money, so she can have a husband and family, despite her physical disabilities.... Gentle Conquest
Ralph, the young, scholarly Earl of Chartleigh permits his mother to arrange a marriage to Georgiana, the even younger daughter of her friend. Both are virgins on their wedding night and during the awkward attempts in the bedroom, Ralph is humiliated. Their marriage goes unconsummated much to Georgie's annoyance.
Ralph decides he should get some sexual experience with an opera dancer so he can finally consummate the marriage with his wife, whom he is ... Heartless
Anna Marlowe marries Lucas Kendrick, Duke of Harndon, knowing that he will never love her, to escape from a man from her past....
Mary Balogh novels
Indiscreet
Exiled to a small country town, Catherine Winsmore is living under the guise of a widow named Catherine Winters. Catherine is living dull but content life alone after she was ruined and ostrasized in London many years ago.
Rex Adams, has decided to travel to visit his younger brother after being jilted by his betrothed for another man, so he and other friends who he served with in the war have small house party, where he meets Catherine, and de... Irresistible
Sophia Armitage had agreed to help Sir Nathaniel Gascoigne find a husband for his cousin Lavinia in the glittering city of London- only half hoping that she'd find one herself. Sophia knew the odds were against her. Men simply did not seem attracted to her. Even her late husband had treated Sophia more as a companion than a lover. But then something shocking happened in London- Sophia found herself in the arms of Nathaniel himself! Not only did this act ... Lady with a Black Umbrella
In Regency England, Lady Daisy Morrison, 25 and independent, is staying overnight at an inn. When she sees a gentleman being attacked by hooligans, she rescues him by wielding her father's large black umbrella. Viscount Giles Kincade flees from his assailants. Daisy pays Giles' inn bill, his gambling debts, and his "lady" of the evening. When Giles discovers this, he is utterly mortified. As a handsome, wealthy and arrogant bachelor, Daisy's actions br... Lord Carew's Bride
Samantha Newman had her heart broken by a handsome, callous rake, so, she was happy to befriend Hartley Wade, who she assumed was the gardener of the neighbouring estate belonging to the Marquess of Carew. Hartley has a crippled leg and damaged hand, but is so gentle and kind that Samantha feels safe around him.
At first, Hartley does not tell Samantha he is actually the Marquess of Carew. He is too amazed to find that such a beautiful woman genuinel... More than a Mistress
Jane Ingleby, who is actually Lady Sara Illingsworth, is on the run from her guardian, the Earl of Durbury. Jane had struggled with his son, who was trying to ravish her, and he was injured. The Earl pronounced that his son was dead and Sara/Jane was the murderer. In fear, she takes off for London to reach her godmother, who is out of town when she arrives. Lady Sara/Jane decides to take up employment, but on her way to work, she encounters a du... No Man's Mistress
The main characters were Lord Ferdinand and Viola. The novel starts with a festival in a small village where the two meet in rather romantic circumstances.
The conflict starts the very next day when Lord Ferdinand arrives at Pinewood Manor and finds Viola in residence. Having won Pinewood Manor in a card game, Lord Ferdinand was adamant in his efforts to claim his ownership. Viola who had lived there for the last two years after leaving London was sc...
Mary Balogh information
One Night for Love
As Lord Newbury, the Earl of Kilbourne, awaits his bride to come down the aisle, his wedding is interrupted by his former wife, whom he thought had died two years before. Lily Doyle had married Major Lord Newbury in Portugal, after he promised her dying father, Sergeant Doyle, that he would marry her and give her the protection of his name. They had one perfect night of love before being attacked the next day, Lord Newbury (Neville) is rendered uncon... Secrets of the Heart
George, the Duke of Cranwell, is horrified to see his sister and his fiancee in the company of Sarah, his ex-wife. Cranwell married Sarah years before but when he discovered on their wedding night that she was not a virgin, he walked out and went to the considerable effort of obtaining a divorce.
Sarah still loves Cranwell and finds it painful to see him again. She knows that he thinks she is immoral but she cannot tell him the truth. Sarah had bee... Silent Melody
Ashley and Emily, from Heartless, meet again seven years after Ashley went to India and was married.... Simply Love
Anne Jewell is a teacher at Miss Martins' School for Girls in Bath. Anne has a nine year old illegitimate son, David, the result of a violent rape that Anne endured in her past. When Anne receives an invitation from David's father's relatives to spend some time at their family estate in Wales, Anne reluctantly agrees to the vacation. Anne views the trip as an opportunity for her son to bond with his Bewcastle cousins and male relatives, in the absence... Simply Unforgettable
Frances Allard, a teacher at Miss Martin's School for Girls, becomes stranded at an inn during a snowstorm with Lucius Marshall, Viscount Sinclair. The pair, who dislike each other at first, steadily begin to enjoy each other's company as they are forced to work and entertain themselves together. By the end of the two days of being stranded, their initial dislike of each other turns into sexual attraction and they have a torrid night of love. The... Slightly Dangerous
Wulfric Bedwyn, a wealthy duke with a glacial personality, agrees to attend a house party with the expectation he will have a quiet and companionable two weeks with frinds. To his chagrin, the house party turns out to be a noisy social affair in honor of the engagement of a young relative of the hostess. To his further chagrin, he is the target of many attempts at flirtation because the young ladies at the house party made a bet among themselves to see ... Slightly Married
Colonol Lord Aiden Bedwyn has returned to England from a battle in France to inform a fallen comrade's sister of his death. Aiden promised to protect his fallen friend's sister, Eve Morris. Upon arriving at her home, Ringwood Manor, Aiden is informed by Eve that she does not need his protection.
Aiden, stranded at Ringwood due to rainstorms, finds out that Eve is about to be turned out of her home. Eve was to inherit Ringwood only if she ... Slightly Scandalous
Freyja Bedwyn is called Free by her four brothers and one sister. She lives up to her name. Betrayed by a former lover, she believes she is immune to love, and fears ever being vulnerable to romance again, but no other danger phases her.
Joshua Moore was an unwanted orphan in his aunt's house as a child. Now, his cousin has died, and Josh is the heir. Determined not to return home, there are dark secrets that he has vowed never to reveal.
Josh and... Slightly Tempted
Lady Morgan Bedwyn is young, beautiful and eligible. Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn was exiled by his father after an episode that compromised his honor and integrity. He starts the relationship trying to seduce Lady Morgan as an instrument of revenge against her brother, Wulfric, but finds that she has touched his emotions in a way that make marriage the only option. Her family is against the match but Lady Morgan is independant and will make up her ... Slightly Wicked
Rannulf Bedwyn, a rakishly handsome man, rescues Judith Law from an overturned stagecoach. Judith, who is on her way to become a companion to an elderly aunt, sees Rannulf's rescue as her one chance at adventure, so she pretends to be an actress and spends one night of passion with Rannulf, thinking she will never see him again.
Judith does meet him again, though, because Judith's aunt resides with Judith's cousin, Julianne, who Rannulf has tra... Snow Angel
Rosamund Hunter fought with her brother and set out on foot even though it was about to snow. An attempted rescue by Justin Halliday, the Earl of Wetherby, results in both of them being stranded together in a snowstorm. Rosamund, who was married to an old man, is now a young widow. She has no intention of marrying again, but when she looks at handsome Justin, she wonders what it would be like to lie in the arms of a young man. Justin was supposed to ... Tangled
Rebecca, Lady Cardwell, is devastated by the death of her husband Julian during the Crimean War. But Julian's foster brother and closest friend, Lord David Tavistock, proposes marriage. Even though Rebecca thinks David is a scoundrel and a rake who fathered an illegitimate child, she agrees because Julian's death leaves her destitute.
What Rebecca does not know is that David has always loved Rebecca and has always covered up and accepted the blame fo... Tempting Harriet
Harriet Wingham and Archibald Tenby (from Dancing with Clara) almost began an affair seven years ago, but Tenby broke off his pursuit when his grandfather died. After their meeting, Tenby wants to propose marriage, but Harriet offers him the affair he wanted at their first meeting. ... The Constant Heart
Rebecca Shaw was once madly in love with Christopher Sinclair and they were engaged to be married. But Christopher broke off the engagement to marry a wealthy woman. Becky has never been able to love anyone else but she has agreed to marry Philip Everett even though neither feels a passion for the other. Then Christopher returns to the village after the death of his wealthy wife.
Becky keeps meeting Christopher in the village, at the school where s... The Double Wager
The Duke of Eversleigh, who is a confirmed bachelor with a desirable mistress, bets his friends he will get married soon. He has an odious cousin as his heir and wants to cut him out of his will. Henrietta Tallant, a boyish and unconventional young woman known to her friends as Henry, wagers she can get a marriage proposal from the confirmed bachelor, the Duke of Eversleigh.
After one meeting at a ball where Henry amuses Eversleigh, he proposes. Nei... The Famous Heroine
Cora Downes is the daughter of a merchant but because she rescued the son of a duke, she became famous as a heroine and is invited to outings with the nobility of London. Cora decides this is an opportunity to have fun even if the aristocracy makes it clear she is not one of them.
Lord Francis Kneller, however, pays attention to Cora, even though he is also a son of a duke. Cora does not find him intimidating. Because of his extremely dandified way... The First Snowdrop
Alexander Stewart, Viscount Merrick, is forced to take shelter in a country house because of a snowstorm. The woman who opens the door is overweight and plainly dressed, so Alexander assumes she is a servant. When she walks him to his bedchamber, he tries to take her to bed. She pushes him away, and he lets her go. The next morning, he discovers that the woman he almost seduced the night before, is no servant, but Anne Parrish, the granddaughter of a bar... The Gilded Web
Alexandra Purnell is the daughter of a strict English lord who using scripture as a punishment. She has been bethrothed to the Duke of Peterleigh since she was a small child and she is resigned to marry him even though he is much older than her. Lord Beckworth, Alex's father, decides she must have a season in London before she is wed for the sake of appearances. Alex take a stroll outside during one soiree and abruptly finds herself being abducted... The Ideal Wife
Miles Ripley, Earl of Severn, refuses to marry his mother's choice for a bride, and so resolves he will marry the next woman he sees. His ideal wife will be plain, dull and ordinary so that he can get an heir and leave his wife at his country estate. Abigail Gardiner calls on Miles after she has lost her job. As a distant relative, she hopes he can find her a new position. The position he offers her is as his wife.
Abby does not understand why the... The Incurable Matchmaker
In Regency London, Jack, Marquess of Kendall, brags to his friends that he has never been turned down by a woman. He agrees to a wager that he can persuade any lady of quality that his friends name to sleep with him. One drunken friend mentions his widowed sister-in-law, Diana Ingram, as someone who would not be seduced by Jack because she is unfailingly virtuous. Jack accepts the bet.
Jack and Diana meet when they are both marooned at the same inn o... The Last Waltz
Gerard Percy has been away from England for 10 years but returns when he becomes Earl of Wanstead. He moves into the estate he inherited where the newly widowed countess, Christina is still living. Years ago, they had been in love but Christina married Gerard's cousin, the recently deceased Gilbert.
It is almost Christmas so Gerard plans a large house party. Gerard and Christina are immediately at odds. She does not like his plans for a party with... The Notorious Rake
Lady Mary Gregg is famous in Regency London for her intellectual
gatherings. She can't believe she's in the same party as Lord Edmond Waite, a notorious rake. But when she finds herself alone with him during a terrifying thunderstorm she practically begs him to comfort her by having sex. She dismisses that night as a result of her uncontrollable fear of lightning, but Lord Edmond determinedly pursues her. He realizes she is nothing like the women he... The Obedient Bride
Wonderful Regency romance. Lord Geoffrey Astor marries Arabella Wilson in a marriage of convenience and feels justified in keeping his mistress, Ginny Cox. Everything changes when his obeident wife learns about his mistress.... The Plumed Bonnet
The Duke of Bridgwater sees an outlandishly dressed young woman with a purple plumed bonnet standing by the side of the road. Thinking she is a woman of easy virtue and looking for some entertainment, he picks her up in his carriage. The woman, Stephanie Gray, spins a tale about being a governess who was now on her way to claim a large inheritance when beset upon by brigands because she was traveling alone. Bridgwater does not realize she is telling t... The Secret Pearl
One evening in Regency London, Adam Ridgeway, Duke of Raybourne, unhappy in his marriage, decides to pay for the services of a prostitute. After engaging in sex, he discovers that she is or was a virgin. She tells him her name is Fleur.
Fleur ran to London after being unjustly accused of murder by her aristocratic cousin. She had decided to prostitute herself rather than starve, but when she gets a job as a governess to a young girl, she gladly leave... The Temporary Wife
Anthony, Marquess of Staunton and heir to a dukedom, decides he is going to enrage his domineering and abusive father. Charity Duncan has come to him asking for assistance for her impoverished family. Instead, Anthony asks her to marry him. He will take her home, present the unsuitable young woman to his father and then leave, set up Charity in a home on her own and never provide an heir for the ducal title.
Charity agrees because she loves her bro... The Trysting Place
Felicity, Lady Wren, 26 and beautiful, is finally free of the older husband she had to marry for money. She goes to London looking for a husband who is charming, handsome, close to her own age, wealthy, titled and who enjoys Regency Society life. In London, she meets Lord Edmond Waite, a handsome rake. Unfortunately, Felicity discovers he wants her as his mistress. She intends to make him interested in marriage. She plans to make him jealous and enlist... The Ungrateful Governess
Impoverished Jessica Moore works as a governess and paid companion. Charles, Earl of Rutherford, is a house guest who Jessica's employers hope will marry their daughter. When Charles tries to convince Jessica to be a bed companion, they are caught and Jessica is thrown out.
Unemployed, Jessica looks for work in London. Charles, feeling guilty about his role in her dismissal, offers her a position, to be his mistress. When she declines, Charles asks h... The Wood Nymph
William Mainwaring goes to his country estate to recover from the heartbreak of losing the woman he was courting. When wandering in the woods, he meets Helen Wade, who he thinks is a village girl. She is completely unworldly and interested only in art. William finds her friendship soothing and gently seduces her.
When William later realizes she is the daughter of his aristocratic neighbor, he flees to London in a panic. Helen is dragged to London b... Thief of Dreams
Cassandra Havelock, the Countess of Worthing, does not believe in romantic love, until she meets Nigel Wetherby. On the day after their marriage, she learns that her husband was hiding a secret from her.... Truly
Geraint Penderyn and Marged Evans were close friends as children in Wales and were beginning to fall in love before Geraint was sent to live in London. But years later, Geraint became the Earl of Wyvern. He has been absent from Wales for ten years. Marged once loved Geraint, but now hates him because she blames him for her husband's arrest when he was trying to help their friends fight the rents and tithes against the inhabitants of the Welsh village w... Unforgiven
Kenneth Woodfall, the Earl of Haverford, has decided to go back to his country home in Cornwall after leaving their eight years before to join the military because his heart had been broken by his sweetheart, Moira Hayes. Moira and Kenneth had a forbidden love, due to the animosity between their great-grandfathers.
When Kenneth returns he has learned that besides the death of his father, Moira's father and brother have also perished and she... Web of Love
Dominic Raine, Lord Eden, is an officer in the battle of Waterloo. Ellen Simpson's husband is a fellow officer of Dominic's. When Ellen's husband is killed during Waterloo, she is devasted but continues to nurse the injured. Among the injured is Dominic. One night, when Dominic is out of his head with fever, he makes love to Ellen.
Ellen found passion in Dominic's arms, but cannot get over the feelings of guilt and betrayal of her deceased husband....
