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Title: Slightly Sinful by MARY BALOGH ISBN: 0-440-23660-6 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 27 April, 2004 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.06 (17 reviews)
Rating: 3
Summary: Bedwyn Slump.
Comment: Criticizing a favorite author's work is always difficult. Tragically, I think the Bedwyn family is running out of steam! The family saga is down to the crucial last book (A June 2004 release date -- Wulfric's story) and I am afraid! If SLIGHTLY SINFUL is any indication - I should be terrified!
SLIGHTLY SINFUL is Alleyne's story. Lord Alleyne Bedwyn is the fourth and last son in the Bedwyn clan. Stationed at the British embassy in Brussels, Alleyne is shot when returning from the front lines and left to die in a Belgium forest. Rachel York comes upon his naked body; Alleyne's next stop -- a Brussel brothel -- minus his memory.
Of course, Alleyne and Rachel are the main love interest; regrettably, their relationship lacks substance. Significantly missing is the romance, the lust, the sensuality between the two. In fact, the entire book just doesn't have enough interesting content. Tediously, I read to the end hoping to enjoy the Bedwyn family and their reaction when Alleyne returned to them. Letdown notice -- the family ONLY appears briefly in the waning pages. What a shame! The energy from the vivacious family would have given much life to this lackluster story.
Is there a highlight? The ladies of the brothel and a crusty sergeant are delightful people. Yet, is their participation enough to recommend this book? Sadly, no.
I am disappointed! Mary Balogh is one of my all-time favorites. Presently, I am tracking down her Signet Regency Romance books. These little treasures are wonderful stories; unfortunately, SLIGHTLY SINFUL is a poor imitation.
Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.
Rating: 3
Summary: Not as good as the rest
Comment: Well, I've read all of the books in the "Slightly" / Bedwyn series so far.. and honestly, I liked this one the least. I had a hard time getting in to it and after reading part-way through I found myself skimming page after page trying to find something interesting. I normally enjoy Mary Balough's books, but I think I was just expecting too much from this one. I really enjoy reading about the Bedwyn family and, in my opinion, they weren't in this one enough! They don't show up until the last 25-30 pages of the novel.
The basic story is: Lord Alleyne Bedwyn was a diplomat carrying a message to a Duke during the Battle of Waterloo. He ends up shot and unconscious. This part happens actually in the previous novel, which is Morgan Bedwyn's story. His family thinks he is dead. Enter Rachel York, a well-bred young lady who has had a rough life. Now an orphan, she is taking refuge in a brothel run by good-hearted prostitutes. She met a conman, got engaged to him, then he took off with her money and the life savings of the prostitutes.
She's now living with them, trying to figure out a way to get their money back. They end up searching the dead bodies on the battlefield and come across Alleyne, who has been stripped naked. They bring him back to the brothel and nurse him to health. Unfortunately, Alleyne has amnesia and doesn't remember anything about himself! Alleyne decides to help Rachel and her friends find the conman, which ends up involving visiting Rachel's uncle and pretending to be married in order to get Rachel's inheritance.
For me, the story didn't even get interesting until Alleyne, Rachel and friends show up at the uncle's house. The relationship and dialogue between Rachel and her uncle is interesting and quite touching. Rachel's prostitute friends are quirky and interesting, especially when interacting with each other and with Alleyne. Alleyne is kind of bland compared to how he has been portrayed in previous "Slightly" novels.
In my opinion, the amnesia thing went on far too long. Amnesia as a plot device is so tired and overdone, especially in romance novels. I've probably read 25 or 30 with virtually the same plot. Probably even an even MORE tired plot device is the "Pretend marriage!"
Not bringing in the rest of the Bedwyn family until the last chapter or so was a huge mistake. Some of Mary Balough's best and most interesting characters are the Bedwyns, especially when they're interacting together. They were sorely missed! I'm hoping that Wulf's story is better than this one, especially since he has been the most intriguing and mysterious Bedwyn sibling.
To be fair, I did manage to get through the whole book and it wasn't all bad. The supporting characters were interesting (albeit a tad bit unbelievable) and the subplots were pretty amusing as well. Alleyne and Rachel had their moments as well. Overall, I would say it was an average romance novel. Unfortunately, it just doesn't compare to Mary Balough's other works. My favorite Bedwyn novel so far has been Freyja's story (Slightly Scandalous), I highly recommend reading that one over this, if given the choice.
Rating: 3
Summary: It should have been better
Comment: Better than Morgan's tory, but still not close to Balogh's best.
I SO wanted to love this book, but it is rather plodding and has little romance or sensuality to recommend it. Alleyne has been one of my favorite Bedwyn's; I was so heartbroken at his seeming fate in Slightly Tempted, which parallels this one in time. But I don't quite know what to make of him in this book. Worse, Rachel seems to almost be two different women. I just wasn't convinced of their chemistry. There was more saying than showing going on.
The cast of secondary characters, however, was absolutely delightful. Alleyne was much more interesting with them than he was with Rachel. And the absence of the rest of the Bedwyn's was felt here just as it was in Morgan's story. Indeed, perhaps the best scenes in both books was Wulfric's reaction to news of Alleyne in each. How I long for that book (should arrive any day now); it had better be good--I've been waiting for Wulfric's story for a long time.
This story also doesn't touch the heart as deeply as Balogh's works usually do, although Alleyne's response to the war had more impact than Morgan's because it was more subtle and less preachy. There is a good deal of humor both Alleyne and Rachel have good senses of humor, as go the brothel ladies. The story goes awry when Rachel becomes morose and waspish. Alleyne's amnesia lasted a while, and his fear over returning home was interesting but not dealt with fully enough.
Important to the series, definitely -- but I'm hoping that Wulfric's story gets back to the high quality, heart-touching work Balogh is known for.
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Title: Slightly Tempted by MARY BALOGH ISBN: 0440241065 Publisher: Dell Publishing Pub. Date: 30 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh ISBN: 0385338112 Publisher: Delacorte Press Pub. Date: 01 June, 2004 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: Lady Whistledown Strikes Back by Julia Quinn, Karen Hawkins ISBN: 0060577487 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 27 April, 2004 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Married to the Viscount by Sabrina Jeffries ISBN: 0060092149 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 30 December, 2003 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: A Gentleman's Honor by Stephanie Laurens ISBN: 0060002077 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 30 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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