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Title: A Summer to Remember by Mary Balogh ISBN: 0-440-23663-0 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 04 March, 2003 Format: Mass Market Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.37 (27 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Wonderfully emotionally satisfying and rich
Comment: Miss Lauren Edgeworth was left at the alter a year before but she is strong--and wishes for nothing more than her independence. When handsome rake Kit Viscount Ravensberg swoops in with marriage in his mind, Lauren sees a way to get them both what they want. The plan--an announced engagement that will let Kit avoid his family's schemes. Once the engagement is broken, Lauren's reputation will prevent any future marriage plans and let her get on with her life. In the meantime, Kit can open Lauren's eyes to adventure for a SUMMER TO REMEMBER.
Set in Regency England, A SUMMER TO REMEMBER offers a combination of the best of regency manners with steamy desire. Both Lauren and Kit are powerfully damaged characters with inherent nobilities that make them sympathetic and right for one another. Still, Lauren's clever plan may turn out to be too clever by half when she begins to fall in love with Kit only to realize that his soulmate is another woman.
Author Mary Balogh delivers an emotionally powerful novel. Lauren's slow opening to womanhood is satisfying and believable. The steps she takes to help Kit reach reconciliation with his family--despite the risks she takes by doing so--further endear her to the reader. Her history of abandonment makes her desire for independence seem essential and non-negotiable, even if it means forgoing the love of her life. Kit is a wonderful hero--a combination of rake and hero, willing to protect the weak with no thought for society's rules. Only he can help Lauren escape from her past--just as only she can rescue him from himself.
Rating: 4
Summary: an enjoyable 3 1/2 star read
Comment: While I don't exactly share the first reviewer's sentiments about "A Summer to Remember" honesty compels to agree that while this was a rather agreeable and enjoyable read, there was really nothing incredibly earth-shatteringly new or fresh about this latest Mary Balogh Regency romance. Everything depends on one's personal taste: compared to "No Man's Mistress (too improbable a plot -- supposedly 'honourable' heroes don't force their presence on the households of respectable young ladies, no matter the circumstances) and "More Than a Mistress" (the last few chapters of that book made me quite ill), "A Summer to Remember," was a welcome relief. It seemed to herald (for me anyway) the return of the Mary Balogh who knew how to make her characters engaging and sympathetic.
For all of us who wondered whatever would happen to Miss Lynn Edgeworth after "One Night of Love" this novel answers those all questions in spades. And while it is not exactly essential to have read that book before embarking on this one, being familiar with some of the finer workings of that plot does help. It's been almost a year since Lauren was left at the altar because of the return from the dead of her intended's previous wife. Outwardly, the very cool, calm and collected Lauren gives the impression that she's recovered from the humiliation of losing Neville (her intended and her greatest love) but inwardly, the pain of the rejection has never left. Now, she's in London for some time away from painful memories. Unfortunately, her family and friends seems to have plans to introduce her to as many eligible bachelors as possible. And for a young lady who has decided never to marry, such a situation is well neigh intolerable!
In the meantime, Kit Butler, the Earl of Ravensberg, receives news that his father is planning to marry him off the his dead brother's fiance. Kit is both angry and bitter about his family's highhandedness; and desperate to thwart his father's plans, he concocts a scheme to find his own bride. However, which respectable young lady would marry an infamous rake such as he? And when he notices Lauren and learns of her reputation, he decides that Lauren just might be the bride for him. Lauren however has other plans -- she has no wish to marry. And so she poses a counter scheme: she will pose as his fiance, and Kit will give her a summer of fun (her previous life has suddenly struck her as being rather unadventurous and dull), but at the end of the summer, she will disengage herself from him and they will each go their separate ways. Kit is intrigued and nothing loath, agrees to Lauren's scheme. But as the summer progresses, Kit comes to see that Lauren just might be the ideal wife for him, and he discovers that he is in danger of losing his heart to her. But not only is Lauren (he thinks) still in love with Neville, she has no intention of marrying at all. Can a rake who used to pride himself on his ability to seduce any woman persuade a respectable and decorous young lady to give up her plans and settle on him?
The plot is a much used and rather basic one. What makes this novel incredibly engrossing and enjoyable was the manner in which the authour brings Lauren to life -- the pain she suffers when her hopes were dashed, her dissatisfaction with her life, the joy she takes from the simple pleasures that Kit introduces her to (like swimming) and the manner in which she handles a few sticky situations. This is a tale of a young woman coming into her own, and what a joy it was to read those bits of the novel. Kit's and Lauren's romance however had me in two minds -- Balogh does show how well they deal with each other, but while their romance was quite sensuous, it was also at times a little ho-hum. As for Kit, well he's the usual self-centered hero, with some redeeming characters. I, personally enjoyed the scene in which his younger brother finally told him off. I probably would have broken his nose as well, but if you only have one arm (as Kit's brother has) breaking other people's noses could be a problem.
On the whole, I'd say that this novel was quite an enjoyable read and rates somewhere in the 3 1/2 stars realm. It even hints that there may be more novels featuring a few characters from this novel. I do hope so, for I'm dying to see how things turn out between Gwen and Ralf Bedwyn! A good read.
Rating: 5
Summary: Not only a pleasure to read, but an honor.
Comment: Five stars are simply not enough. If a romance could reach perfection, this would be a very serious contender.
I had no choice but to stay up to the wee hours to finish it. It is, by far, one of the most emotionally compelling books I have ever read. I frequently had to get up to fetch more tissues--tears of both joy and sorrow. It is emotionally and psychologically deep and honest. Although I have often been moved by good writing, few novels have touched me so deeply.
Balogh convincingly shows us the growth of a relationship based on true knowledge of another person and selfless compassion. Although desire is there, unlike most romances, it hardly takes center stage. The result is beautiful and warmly haunting.
Kit and Lauren are well-rounded and compelling characters. Balogh sets their characters before the reader and slowly peels back the layers until we (and the other) can see who each one truly is underneath their social masks. The reader has no doubt that this is a love that continue until death and beyond.
I am near to tears just writing this review--that's how marvelous this book is. If you read only one romance in your life, make it this one.
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Title: Slightly Wicked by Mary Balogh ISBN: 0440241057 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 29 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Slightly Married by Mary Balogh ISBN: 0440241049 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 01 April, 2003 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Slightly Scandalous by Mary Balogh ISBN: 0440241111 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 03 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: One Night for Love by Mary Balogh ISBN: 0440226007 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 13 July, 1999 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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Title: More than a Mistress by Mary Balogh ISBN: 0440226015 Publisher: Dell Pub. Date: 05 June, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.50 |
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