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Simply Perfect (Simply Quartet #4)

3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 · rating details · 2,096 ratings · 161 reviews

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Mary Balogh's The Secret Mistress.

Set against the seductive backdrop of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh’s latest novel sweeps us into the sensual, enthralling world of an elite academy for young ladies. Here, amid music lessons and garden parties, whispered confessions and secret yearnings, one of...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published March 25th 2008 by Delacorte Press (first published January 1st 2008)

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Apr 06, 2008 Julie (jjmachshev) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2008-reads

Another emotionally satisfying book from Mary Balogh. The final of her "Simply..." series.

This is the story of Claudia Martin, school matron. Claudia doesn't like aristocrats, the ton, and men in general. She was terribly hurt as a young woman and vowed to rely only on herself while making a success of her life. She's in her mid-30s, firmly on the shelf, and satisfied with her life. The Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough, arrives on an errand from one of her former teachers...and her life, and h...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Krista rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, historical-romance

Borrowed from the library or I would have torn my hair out for wasting money on it.

I wanted to read something by Mary Balogh because I'd heard that she was the next best thing to Georgette Heyer, whose delightful books are some of my favorites for easy, fun, and quick reading. Oh was I disappointed. First off, I had no idea this was the fourth book in a quartet. It didn't even occur to me to check that, I mean I was looking for simple, not a saga spread over four novels. But that explains some o...more

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Dec 29, 2011 Elvie Doll rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: dead-tree-books, romance

I consider myself a semi-discriminating romance reader. I demand a fair amount from my romances, but I don’t read them with my etymological dictionary (yes, I own one!) in the other hand. I insist on a high degree of historical accuracy, but forgive the author if she needed to move the date of a relatively minor historical battle by a matter of months to make her plot work (especially if she apologizes in an author’s note and provides the accurate information for the particular-minded). I don’t...more I consider myself a semi-discriminating romance reader. I demand a fair amount from my romances, but I don’t read them with my etymological dictionary (yes, I own one!) in the other hand. I insist on a high degree of historical accuracy, but forgive the author if she needed to move the date of a relatively minor historical battle by a matter of months to make her plot work (especially if she apologizes in an author’s note and provides the accurate information for the particular-minded). I don’t know enough about fashion (either historical or current!) to be able to pinpoint inaccuracies of dress, and although blatant behavioral inaccuracies really disturb me, I don’t want to read about pseudo-cavemen and their chattel, either.

What I insist upon without fail are three things: 1) a story about interesting people with interesting emotional and interpersonal dynamics, 2) a good plot surrounding their fall into love (preferably one that provides some external tension and creates difficulties beyond how the main characters manage to maneuver each other into bed), and 3) a happy ending. Noa is absolutely right – romances are escapes from the dreary everyday world, and Romeo and Juliet is not romantic. (I should also include proper grammar and punctuation in this list, but since I think that should be the absolute minimum standard for anything published, I feel it should go without saying. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t seem to agree with me on this point…)

Usually, a book written by Mary Balogh can be depended upon to provide all three of the essential points (properly written!), and she’s usually pretty reliable about the points in the first paragraph, as well. Unfortunately, I just can’t say that was the case in Simply Perfect. Allow me to elaborate.

The only essential point that came up trumps was the happy ending, but to get there required such plot contortions, leaps of illogic, and unlikely behavior that providing it almost wasn’t worth it. It demanded trespasses against historical standards of behavior, human psychology, and, well… it was just irritating. The fact that happy endings are a foregone conclusion, and that this one seemed so impossible to achieve just made the whole plot chafe.

As for historical standards of behavior… well. I’m sorry, I know we all love Cinderella stories, but the heirs to dukedoms simply did not behave in any of the ways that Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough did. Not if they expected to remain heirs, had any sense of familial or social duty, or had any desire to be able to continue in society in any fashion. They did not cultivate intensely loving relationships with their illegitimate, handicapped children, and did not marry school teachers on the shady side of 35, even if they were in love, for starters. They also didn’t free themselves to marry said spinster school marms by committing social solecisms so egregious that their fiancees felt obliged to kick them to the curb.

The fact that his behaviors made him so perfect and enlightened (from a modern perspective) as to be a candidate for sainthood made them more irritating, in my opinion. Maybe I was just predisposed against the character because Joseph isn’t my favorite name (apologies to any Josephs or Joes out there). I don’t know. I just know that the man was so sickeningly perfect and sweet that he made my teeth hurt. Not only are men (and women, too!) far from perfect, his perfection was even more galling because it was anachronistic. He was an ickle precious perfect modern man, and had no business behaving like that in the early nineteenth century.

But our Joseph had to be that perfect, because that was the only way that he was going to win over our aging and bitter spinster. Claudia Martin, headmistress, had appeared as a minor character in three previous books set around the romances of teachers at her school (the “Simply” series). Although tart and a bit anti-man, she was interesting and sympathetic enough that I wanted to read this book to find out her story. But my interest and sympathy evaporated quickly upon nearer acquaintance. For someone who prided herself on being an intelligent woman, she was an absolute mass of prejudices! Prejudices against the useless, despicable aristocracy, and dukes (and eventual dukes, too) in particular. Despite the fact that three of her close friends had married into the aristocracy, and were married to worthy, likable, non-despicable sorts of men, all that meant to Claudia was that there were three exceptions in the world to an otherwise ironclad rule. Aristocrats equal bad news!

As the story progresses, it becomes apparent that this entire prejudice, and the whole of her reason for treating St. Joseph the Ickle with a completely unacceptable lack of anything even resembling common courtesy (until the sunshine of his irresistible charm melted the ice in her personality – gak!), stemmed from a single incident of personal tragedy perpetrated against her young heart by an 18-year-old (you guessed it) duke. So, therefore, he and the whole of his kind were summarily judged as being cut from the same disgusting cloth, and that was that. For the next 18 years of this supposedly intelligent woman’s life! And that wasn’t even the only example of this woman’s ability to hold a grudge. When she gets her hate on, watch out!

So, we have a story with two main characters I didn’t really like, who behave absurdly and anachronistically in ways that seem to me to strain the bounds of what is psychologically credible, suffering almost zero sexual tension, encased in a distressingly thin plot. The only thing keeping our two lovebirds apart is, well, the fact that in real life they would never have gotten together. I know a suspension of disbelief is required when reading many historical romance novels, particularly the ones with Cinderella leanings, but really? Seriously? Usually I can go with the flow, but this one pushed me too far, and my suspension is un-suspended.

I am sorry as can be to have to so thoroughly pan an offering by a usually highly reliable romance author. Perhaps it is precisely because she is usually so reliable that I’m being so harsh. Simply Perfect was published in 2008, and I’ve read books Mary Balogh has written since, so I know she returned to her usual good form. I suppose this book is one of those ones that proves that the Bell curve applies to most everything in life. I just wish I’d known that before I spent my money on it.(less)

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Dec 04, 2011 Michelle K. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

I was really excited to find "Simply Perfect" at a book sale yesterday. I had read books 1-3 of Ms. Balough's perfect series with much delight but had not been able to find this one, book 4. "Simply Perfect" was very good. The fact that I read it in one day attests to that. I found myself at a disadvantage though. It has been awhile since I read the Bedwyn and Perfect series. So, I spent a lot of time trying to remember characters and their stories. Even if I was brand new to Mary Balough it wou...more

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Sep 17, 2011 Flame rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: simply-perfect, historical-romance

I read this book a few years back. Though I don't really recall much of the plot anymore, I do remember one thing. I remember thinking that the book was worthy of its name, Simply Perfect.

Looking back though, I remember feeling that though the story wasn't particularly interesting and eye-catching, it was very addictive. I know I couldn't put the book down and I read it in about one sitting, maybe 3 hours? I do faintly recall it as being one of the first romance books I actually re-read, at lea...more

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Jul 21, 2011 Romancing the Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

Claudia Martin has owned and run her own school for years and resigned herself to a life of spinsterhood. That is until Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough enters her life and turns everything upside down.

Joseph wants to marry for love, but his station in life and pressure from his father has him proposing to a frigid woman. So, when Joseph keeps encountering Claudia and she starts coming out of her shell, he realizes that she might just be the perfect woman for him.

Simply Perfect is the final bo...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Michelle (Clover Hill Book Reviews) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Also posted on my blog.

The cover on this is very visual. I love the shade of forest green used for the dress. Claudia Martin is the headmistress of St Martin's School for Girls. She enjoys her life bringing hope and culturing the girls in her school, many of whom are charity cases and would otherwise be living on the streets.

Joseph Fawcitt is an interesting character, he's played the field and knows how to turn his charm on...leaving the girls at St Martin's oogling over him when he pays a visi...more

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Jul 07, 2010 Brigitte rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have not read all of the "Simply" series, and after reading Claudia's story, I found I don't have to. As a few other reviewers have mentioned, all the former teachers as well as the Bedwyns, not to mention Ravensburg and Lauren (the gang's all here!) make appearances in this novel, and as each makes their appearance, there is a recap of their background. Flying off on these tangents took away from the main storyline, and when the focus would be returned to Claudia, it was like shifting gears a...more

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Jul 07, 2010 Rebecca rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, historical

I picked this up because I adore Georgette Heyer and I've read all of hers, and this one seemed from reviews as if it would have a bit more substance than typical series regencies. It did, and I liked that it was about a 35 year old woman (instead of an 18-22 year old) who had lived an independent life with a career. The philosophies espoused by the "good" characters, however, were decidedly 21st century idealized ones, which detracts from the atmosphere. I think you can get away with some of th...more

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Jun 17, 2009 becky rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. By the time Balogh got to the fourth book in this series devoted to Bath school teachers I was kind of over the whole theme. Thankfully, while the theme of the novel was still very much there, the characters were a departure for the series.

Claudia Martin is what society would deem a spinster - she's old, she's set in her ways and she knows who she is. Thankfully, Joseph - the Marquess of Attingsborough - is no young pup, still wet behind the years. He too is a bit long in the tooth and much to...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked this story as I have all the Balogh novels I've read but I was more let down with this one than some of the others. I really wanted Portia Hunt to get some kind of major call out for the way she treated people "beneath" her and I would have completely loved it if that person was Wulfric. I loved that Wulfric and Frejya were in this novel but when they are around I want more of both of them. I liked Joseph's character in some ways but really did not in others. I did not like that it took...more I liked this story as I have all the Balogh novels I've read but I was more let down with this one than some of the others. I really wanted Portia Hunt to get some kind of major call out for the way she treated people "beneath" her and I would have completely loved it if that person was Wulfric. I loved that Wulfric and Frejya were in this novel but when they are around I want more of both of them. I liked Joseph's character in some ways but really did not in others. I did not like that it took him so long to stand up for himself and do what was right and then when he did I thought it really wasn't enough. I wanted him to be stronger. I wanted him to be I scantly joyed when Portia released him and to announce it everywhere not sneak off an dealt to see if she changed her mind. I think it was kind that he thought if how things would impact her but how could he have really cared that much after how she had spoken about his daughter and her general ideas of how marriage worked. I didn't like Charlie's character but I don't guess I was supposed to. I had hoped there would be something to redeem him but there was nothing. He was full of hot air. I'm not sure that I liked that Claudia gave up her school for marriage. I would have preferred that she kept her school. I like that she o,and to continue her efforts in a different at her new home but that was almost all too reaching for me. I did like how much Joseph loved his daughter but I wish he had on his own realized she needed to spread her wings. I liked that others were scheming to separate Portia and Joseph but I wanted to be more in on the plans and I wanted it to be successful before an engagement. I did not like that Joseph proposed to Portia when he knew he loved Claudia and when he knew Portia would never love him or bring him any happiness. And although I liked the scene for the romance I did. It like that Joseph bed Claudia when he knew it was likely the next day he would be engaged again and possibly never see her again. How selfish and weak it seemed to me. (less)

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Nov 02, 2012 Jasmin rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, historical-fiction, historical-romance, romance, two-stars

Do not proceed if you are a Mary Balogh fan, or if you like this book. This is a rant more than a review.

I'm not a professional writer, but I do know that a romance book should have two main characters. For the secondary characters, one to five is ok. Six to seven is already too much. But this book surpasses my seven limit since it had like a gazillion characters in it, all which were either called by name or by their respective titles like Duchess of Danbury or whatever. In my head, it was ok t...more

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Mar 17, 2012 Gerrie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: bluestocking-heroines, my-favorites, plain-heroines, romance-historical, romance-regency, romance-with-children

This book, the last one in the Bedwyn Saga and Simply series (plus their two prequels) was a simply perfect ending for me. I actually expected not to like it, as the heroine appeared quite sour in the earlier books, and carried a decades long grudge against most of the nobility. I expected her to be tediously bad tempered and unpleasant in her own story. However, this is a Mary Balogh book, and as Balogh unpeels the layers of her main characters, they emerge as multi-dimensional and sympathetic....more

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Aug 19, 2009 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

The best of the Simply series so far in my opinion. This one is about two 35-year-olds who meet and eventually fall in love. They have both the maturity and the experiences to make the book more than a simple love story. The addition of a blind 11-year-old and the different reactions of people to her blindness is complicated by the fact that she is illegitimate. A good commentary on the shallowness of society and its rules when rigidly applied.

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May 04, 2009 Melissa Andrews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-historical-romance

I really like Mary Balogh, and I enjoyed this book as usual. She can actually make me cry - yes, I know it's probably comparable to Lifetime TV movies, but when looking for a quick, easy read, especially since these are romance novels and not "serious" writing, she has excellent plots and her characters are well done.

Because this was the last book in the Simply series, it included just of the characters from the Bedwyn novels, as well as the other Simply couples. This made it soemtimes confusing...more

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Feb 03, 2010 notyourmonkey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-read, braincandy

Really interesting handling of women's independence and employment in the guise of a dress-up-doll historical romance; really egregiously bad handling of the illegitimate! blind! plotpoint! You don't get to be all enlightened or whatever about the role of women in society and then go on to have the same heroine unironically wonder if the illegitimate! blind! plot point! even has the capacity to learn or if her lack of sight means that she is utterly uneducable and capable of nothing more than be...more

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Feb 06, 2010 Rane rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the last of the Simply Series, Claudia Martin wasn’t looking for love, she had her school and her students, but when Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough walks through her school doors and changes her and his world forever......

In the last of the Simply Series, Simply Perfect centers around the headmistress Claudia Martin, whose hand to claw her way in order for her school to be successful, her true pride and joy are the charity students whom go on to become successful in their own right. Goi...more In the last of the Simply Series, Claudia Martin wasn’t looking for love, she had her school and her students, but when Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough walks through her school doors and changes her and his world forever......

In the last of the Simply Series, Simply Perfect centers around the headmistress Claudia Martin, whose hand to claw her way in order for her school to be successful, her true pride and joy are the charity students whom go on to become successful in their own right. Going with two of her oldest students to see about getting them jobs, Claudia find out one of her dear friend and old teachers has sent another instead a peer, who acts like a carefree peer Claudia can’t stand, as they travel to London Claudia sees beyond the carefree gentleman to a man whose at a lost to help not only his daughter whom is blind but himself, Claudia finds herself doing the unthinkable..falling in love.
Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough has been groomed to be the next Duke after the passing of his father, and the weight of his title has brought him down, having to finally marry and produce an heir, but hidden away is a daughter he adore, whom he longs to protect away from the world, but also be able to go out and enjoy the world’s wonders for herself. Joseph is stuck between his duty and his love, and when Claudia walks into his life he knows he’ll do anything for love.

The ending to the Simply series with Claudia Martian finally getting her chance as an HEA. Claudia always came across as a true blue strict teacher, but behind the armor she wore, was a kind and loving woman and friend. Well known for thumbing her nose at the Bedwyns, Claudia has a rough past when he comes to peers, after her own friend and then lover left her for a dukedom, putting her down in the process. This event caused Claudia to lose something in herself and belief and self-worth of being a woman. Many things comes to past for Claudia has she slowly loses her armor that not only surrounds her body but her heart and soul. Joseph and his daughter are able to show Claudia to joy of just being in love and being love for oneself’s. I was really happy to see Claudia get her own HEA, although she could hold a grudge she was caring and would protect anyone from the world. She was truly kind-hearted.

Joseph had a true tug of war going on in his life, from duty to his title and family to his heart. Joseph loved his daughter and quickly as he saw more of Claudia fell in love with her as well. This put a strain on his and the family he longed for, one full of love to one full of cold duty. When Joseph finally chooses love, he takes some hard hits, but stands beside his love ones and risks it all for love. I adore Joseph he’s second only to Syd, with a big heart and strong sense of duty, Joseph loved greatly and deeply, and as both him and Claudia take their chances on love, they were willing to take their chance at love together.

As the rest of the simply series, many characters make an return with a few glimpses of past leads characters of the simply series starting their own families.

While I greatly enjoy reading Simply Perfect, I felt it lacked the true romance that really makes MB books shine bright. The romance between Claudia and Joseph was very slow and really didn’t kick off toward the end. The focus was mostly on Claudia and Joseph helping his daughter, the romance seem to finally make a last dash to the finish line making it feel rushed, but still very sweet.

Overall: a great ending to the simply series, a series I enjoyed greatly with each book having it’s own message of understanding ,forgiveness and most importantly love... simply perfect!(less)

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Mar 26, 2009 Ana T. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, read-in-2009, regency-hist

Remember how on my last Balogh review I mentioned that her current books lacked the passion of her earlier ones? Well this one is a prime example of that.

Claudia Martin has been a secondary character in the earlier 3 books of the Simply series and she was mentioned I believe in some of the Bedwyn series. She was a sort of austere and strict woman, devoted to her work and hating all things Bedwyn. Even when she interacted with the other teachers in previous books I always felt that there was sti...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Shei Belikov rated it 5 of 5 stars

★★★★★★

Y pensar que tenía renuencia a leer este libro...

Y es que la Srta. Martin no era un personaje que me atrajera mucho, pero al final no estaba tranquila sin terminar la serie y lo comencé.

El libro hace honor cien por ciento a su nombre,es Simplemente Perfecto...

Me enamoré por completo de Joseph ♥, dónde hay un hombre como él???

Realmente creo que sólo puede existir en las páginas de un maravilloso libro, porque si existiera en la vida real ya tendría que estar conmigo jajajaja

"No eres la muje...more

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Jul 08, 2010 Sandy rated it 2 of 5 stars

I seem to be going through a romance novel phase right now. I picked up "Simply Perfect" off the paperback exchange shelf at the library, and was less than impressed with this one.

There was a lot here that I wanted to like - the heroine, Claudia, is a woman in her 30s. She is not a virgin (although also not sexually experienced - heaven forbid a romance heroine has a satisfying sex life before she meets the hero of the story). She is the headmistress of a school educating girls, and is driven an...more I seem to be going through a romance novel phase right now. I picked up "Simply Perfect" off the paperback exchange shelf at the library, and was less than impressed with this one.

There was a lot here that I wanted to like - the heroine, Claudia, is a woman in her 30s. She is not a virgin (although also not sexually experienced - heaven forbid a romance heroine has a satisfying sex life before she meets the hero of the story). She is the headmistress of a school educating girls, and is driven and business oriented. Unfortunately, she can also be judgmental and stubbornly prejudiced, in a silent, sometimes mean sort of way. (And for a woman of business, she spends nearly all the book away from her school, which is disappointing.)

Balogh pairs Claudia with Joseph, a generic, of-course-he's-handsome, of-course-he's-a-marquess, of-course-he's-going-to-be-a-duke sort of guy. He doesn't have much going on in his life other than affection for his illegitimate, blind daughter. Next to Claudia, he is a cookie-cutter, bland stereotype of a romance lead, swanning around in tight pants and overshadowed by the female lead.

I did like the moments of friendship between the two of them, but I didn't understand the romance or the moments of great!passion. Claudia loosens up a little by the end of the book, and Joseph - um - just sort of exists. Wait, he eventually acknowledges his illegitimate daughter, after she manages to get herself adorably lost in the woods (because that is what blind children do, of course). That was it.

Also, I believe nearly all the characters we run into during the course of the book are leads from previous Balogh novels, which is underwhelming and not very interesting if, like me, you've never actually read any of her other books. She shortcuts character description because I guess she thought everybody would know the supporting cast well enough already. Not so much the case here.

So, a disappointing execution to what I thought was a good setup.

Two stars.(less)

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Oct 15, 2011 Gloria75 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Davvero molto bello!
In questo ultimo libro della saga "simply" vengono proposti e affrontati al meglio diversi temi: figli illegittimi, matrimoni solo d'interesse, delusioni d'amore in giovane età che poi cambiano il corso di una vita intera....
Molto bello lo svolgimento della storia tra vari personaggi, davvero tanti protagonisti di altri libri dell'autrice che sembra si ritrovino tutti insieme nello stesso luogo nello stesso momento, un pò come una grande rimpatriata... con l'immancabile liet...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Michelle Robinson rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: could-not-finish

Generally I love Balogh's novels even though I do not care for her penchant for writing novels that are so far fetched that it is impossible to believe that they could have happened. I am speaking of her almost incessant need to have titled gentry marry teachers, governesses and even prostitutes. However, I am having an incredibly hard time reading this novel. Claudia Martin has been a little too cold or argumentative with people in other novels for me to find her likable.

Then, she is so harsh...more

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May 30, 2011 Michele Powers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Another terrific Mary Balogh book!! Almost a five star. I read this book in a day, I couldn't put it down. Joseph is such a sweet man. A monogamous man who adores his blind daughter? He's perfect! I appreciated how Claudia Martin's character was a modern career woman, but in a way that was realistic to the time period. A common theme in many Balogh books is how the woman might not be typically pretty, of correct social standing, or the man scared, but they are loved for who they are and therefor...more

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Oct 01, 2010 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is the second best of the series to me because once again we're tangled up with the Bedwyns. We have an independent woman who is forward thinking but still tied traditionally to the aristocracy she resents. Claudia Martin finds love in different forms and the identity of her benefactor. Even the nasty Portia Hunt makes another appearance.

I really wish there was a giant chart somewhere that lays out all the nobles, their spouses, children and other relations.

I'll keep reading Balogh's storie...more

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Oct 20, 2012 Rohan Maitzen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I think this is my favorite Mary Balogh so far. I liked the prickly teacher as the heroine, and I especially liked that she pretty much stays prickly, instead of turning into an idealized sap like Lauren in A Summer to Remember. I wish Balogh's editor would help her steer clear of unnecessary cliches. Sometimes she ruins a perfectly good scene with a throwaway line that seems meant to add emotional depth but really made me wince. Also, I hated the "simply perfect" and "simply woman" bits. "I am...more

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May 27, 2011 Kimberly rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Part of a series about teachers at Elite Academy for young ladies. Claudia Martin, the strong independent, once bitten twice shy young lady, gains the attention of handsome Marquess who holds a secret... a blind love child! The problem with story was the pace was S L O W... I kept reading because I liked Claudia's character, her friendship with Joseph The Marquess, and how she taught his daughter Lizzie. But it dragged on, lacked spice, intrigue and Joseph wasn't an interesting hero. Unintereste...more

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Sep 27, 2010 R*beth*h Hart rated it 4 of 5 stars

When you've given up on love it can be the sweetest reward to find you really do deserve it! I have always been a fan of Eras gone by, simpler times. Of you truly believe life was more simple you are mistaken. Reading through the history of the ton and the lower classes through the eyes of Mary Balough can truly be an eye opener. Many of her stories follow the same pattern, visiting the same towns and sites. I most ways I enjoy that about her stories. I enjoy her strong female characters and the...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Diane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: balogh, reviewed

I like this book more each time I read it - I have now read it 3 times. The characters are believable: Claudia Martin, the school mistress who is wise and loving and fierce in her care of charity pupils; Joseph Fawcitt, the heir to a dukedom whose love for his blind, illegitimate daughter creates a problem now that the time has come to settle down and beget an heir; and Lizzie, the little girl who has lived a circumscribed life because of her social life and disability. There are a few reasons w...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Bronwyn Rykiert rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: series, historical-romance

Another enjoyable story by Mary Balogh, this is 4th of 4 books in the Simply Quartet, which features teachers at Miss Martin’s School for girls. This story is about Claudia Martin herself.

Claudia does not trust titled gentleman, especially Dukes so when the future Duke of Anburey, Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough comes to her school with a note from her friend Susanna and says that he will accompany her and 2 of her students to London in 2 days time – she does not trust him.

We find out why she...more

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Oct 28, 2012 Stephanie (Once Upon a Chapter) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, ebook-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Simply Perfect is a great end to the Simply series by Mary Balogh. I thoroughly enjoyed watching as Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough chipped away at Claudia Martin’s heart. Claudia has surrounded herself with purpose in her boarding school for young girls. She is happy with her life and she believes that she is not missing out on anything. That is until Susanna, one of Claudia’s former teachers, arranges for Claudia and two of her charity pupils to be escorted back to London by Joseph.

From tha...more

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About Mary Balogh

Mary Balogh 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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Books by Mary Balogh

First Comes Marriage (Huxtable Quintet, #1)

A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn Prequels #2)

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Trivia About Simply Perfect

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Quotes from Simply Perfect

“Love does not last forever, then?"
"He asked me the same thing this morning," she said. "No, it does not - not love that has been betrayed. One realizes that one has loved a mirage, someone who never really existed. Not that love dies immediately or soon, even then. But it does die and cannot be revived.” — 35 people liked it

“Nothing is permanently perfect. But there are perfect moments and the will to choose what will bring about more perfect moments.” — 30 people liked it

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Simply Perfect (Simply Quartet #4)

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