At Last Comes Love (Huxtable Quintet, #3)

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At Last Comes Love (Huxtable Quintet #3)

3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 · rating details · 3,190 ratings · 212 reviews

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

Step into a world of scandal, intrigue, and enthralling passion as New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh sweeps us into the lives of an extraordinary family: the Huxtables. Margaret, the eldest, embarks on the most risqué adventure of her life and agrees to marry the most notorious man i...more

ebook, 400 pages

Published April 28th 2009 by Dell (first published January 1st 2009)

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Historical Romance: Non Virginal Heroines

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Jan 12, 2011 D.G. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, reviewed

I’ve been reading Mary Balogh for the last 8 or 9 years and she’s written some of my favorite historical romance. That’s why I’m saddened to realize that she’s jumped the shark. This Huxtable series has seemed so boring to me since the first book but I was hoping that she would turn it around. This 3rd book in the series has a more original premise than its predecessors but it’s at times dull, pompous, and unromantic, which for me is a kiss of death in a romance.

Labeling a romance unromantic ma...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Choi Tang rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction

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Jul 15, 2009 M— rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 15, 2013 Kay Bolton rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My review for http://wwww.loveromancepassion.com in November 2010:

I've just finished the second book in the Huxtable series, and must say that from the excerpt from the previous book into this one, it most definitely lived up to my expectations. Actually, it surpassed them.

This is the story of the elder Miss Huxtable, Margaret (Meg to her family) and Duncan Pennethorne, the infamous Earl of Sheringford. They literally run into one another at Lady Tindell's ball. He has returned after a spectacul...more My review for http://wwww.loveromancepassion.com in November 2010:

I've just finished the second book in the Huxtable series, and must say that from the excerpt from the previous book into this one, it most definitely lived up to my expectations. Actually, it surpassed them.

This is the story of the elder Miss Huxtable, Margaret (Meg to her family) and Duncan Pennethorne, the infamous Earl of Sheringford. They literally run into one another at Lady Tindell's ball. He has returned after a spectacular scandal that rocked the ton, and is being forced by his Grandfather to wed somebody suitable in 15 days - she is fleeing from her one time beau whom she had told she was betrothed to somebody her family do not know about. At the same time she was also fleeing from the Marquis of Allingham, whom has offered for her several times over the years and had just told her was now betrothed to somebody else, just at the point when she was going to tell him she would marry him ~ Oh what a tangled web we weave, when at first we practice to deceive...

Not only are these characters extraordinary, but they are fascinating, fiery and intelligent. The story lines in this one didn't leave me positively tearing through the pages. Rather they took a leisurely pace, determined to please and enchant me on the way with the many twists and turns. Some of which were so slight that it's only upon reflection I realized she had deliberately turned me to another path, thought or feeling.

I had formed an attachment to Meg from the previous book, and the tantalizing glimpse of this book from the last had left a lurking suspicion in my mind that Duncan Pennethorne was the kind of romantic hero that most attracts me - a rake/libertine/dark and very dangerous. In the end I was deeply attached to him, and desperate for the heart of all hearts/soul of all souls ending ... perhaps that is the sign of a very well written, brilliant and exceptional read.

Like the first book, this one dealt with much deeper issues and moral dilemmas, but it's done in a charming fashion. Also making me think about how would I feel/act or behave if faced with the same situation? Having said that, don't for one moment believe that it’s dull or lackluster. It is all wrapped up in a very pretty package, with a "you will be delighted with the contents" label. Even the book cover gives that impression (if you read my blog you will find that covers are a big bone of contention!).

I have a sneaking suspicion that based on just the two books so far Mary Balogh is almost certainly set to get a place on my favourite authors of all time’ list.

Rating: (less)

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Feb 09, 2013 Leya rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorite, keeper-shelf, kindle

After getting her sisters married and knowing that her younger brother is set, Meg Huxtable decides it's time to get married, and the next time the Marquess of Allingham proposes she'll accept. But something happens...actually two things: Crispin Dew, her former secret fiance, who broke her heart years ago, wants her back. And then she finds out that the Marquess is already engaged. She running out of options fast...and then she introduces a stranger as her fiance to Crispin. The stranger just h...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Minna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-and-a-half-stars, a-lot-going-on, books-i-own, good-dialogue, historical-romance, regency-romance, angst

So conflicted about this one. I would give 3 1/2 stars if I could. It's hard to rate Mary Balogh's books sometimes, because her novels are superlative compared to those of most other authors. The character development is almost always excellent, the dialogue witty, and the relationships grow as organically as they are ever going to in the confines of a historical romance novel.
However.
The twists regarding Toby were a little much, I think; they just continued and CONTINUED to unfold. I pretty mu...more

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Nov 06, 2012 ies rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

Sebenernya aku sedang malas sekali membuat review, tp keburu lupa ntar ceritanya hehehe... biasa si, 3 bintang lah.. terlalu banyak penjelasan2 yang aku males baca hahahaha :P

Awalnya sedikit kaget, pas tau Heronya seorang Earl yang meninggalkan tunangannya didepan altar untuk kabur bersama kakak ipar tunangannya serta mempunyai seorang anak laki-laki dari hubungan gelap tersebut. Jarang-jarang kan, maksudnya oke lah, die rake, dia playboy, tp yg punya anak diluar nikah itu sangat sedikit. Pasti...more Sebenernya aku sedang malas sekali membuat review, tp keburu lupa ntar ceritanya hehehe... biasa si, 3 bintang lah.. terlalu banyak penjelasan2 yang aku males baca hahahaha :P

Awalnya sedikit kaget, pas tau Heronya seorang Earl yang meninggalkan tunangannya didepan altar untuk kabur bersama kakak ipar tunangannya serta mempunyai seorang anak laki-laki dari hubungan gelap tersebut. Jarang-jarang kan, maksudnya oke lah, die rake, dia playboy, tp yg punya anak diluar nikah itu sangat sedikit. Pasti selalu bisa dipastikan bahwa mereka berhati-hati dalam menebar benih *halah bahasaku* ya gitu deh..

Duncan Pennethorne, Earl of... *lupa* hmpfh, si Hero. Kembali ke London setelah kematian Laura kekasihnya dan Istri sah Tunner *nama depannya gw jg lupa ouch*. Dia harus kembali ke London untuk memberi Tobias (Toby) putranya kehidupan yang layak setelah 5th berpindah-pindah tempat untuk menghindari kejaran keluarga Tunner malah mendapati namanya akan dicoret dari pemasukan "Earl" dari kakeknya si Marquess. Sebenarnya tidak menjadi masalah, karena tanpa gelar Earl pun dia akan tetap menjadi Marquess nantinya setelah sang kakek meninggal, Tetapi dia membutuhkan uang sekarang dan tempat tinggal untuk dirinya dan Toby. Ada 1 syarat dari kakeknya apabila dia masih menginginkan gelar Earl nya, yaitu menikah dengan wanita bangsawan sebelum ulang tahun sang kakek ke 80, tepatnya 2 minggu yang akan datang. Permasalahannya, dia tidak tau harus kemana mencari istri setelah absen selama 5th dari pergaulan ton.

Margaret Huxtable, Kakak pertama Earl of Merton (hero buku ke 4) si Heroine kali ini. Di usianya yang tidak muda lagi, 30th setelah 12th mengabadikan hidupnya demi membesarkan adik2nya (hero n heroine di buku yg laen) merasakan bahwa adik2nya sudah tidak membutuhkan dia lagi dan dia bisa segera menikah atau sebelumnya berfikir begitu, sebelum Crispin Drew, tunangannya ketika berumur 17th muncul kembali di Inggris beserta putrinya setelah kematian istrinya. Ah, si Crispin melamar Mag ketika akan bergabung dgn angkatan bersenjata, tetapi Mag harus menolak karena dia berjanji untuk membesarkan adik2nya dan akhirnya saling berjanji bahwa Crispin akan kembali kemudian hari tetapi malah menikahi wanita lain (duh, bahasaku aneh banget). Intinya Crispin menghianati Mag, dan sekarang kembali untuk melamar Mag karena membutuhkan ibu untuk anaknya. Marah, kecewa dan jengkel pastinya.. maka ketika dia bertubrukan dengan seorang Lord yg entah kenapa bisa membaca jalan pikirannya, dia pun memperkenalkan sang Earl kepada Crispin sebagai tunagnannya.

Nasi sudah menjadi bubur, berita pertungan Mag dengan Duncan menyebar seantero London, dan tak lain tak bukan adalah Crispin penyebarnya (makin jengkel gw ama ni orang). Apakah Mag tunduk begitu saja kepada tuntutan scandal yang melibatkan dirinya? tidak.. Mag menuntut Duncan untuk merayunya agar dia bersedia menikah dengannya dalam kurun waktu 2 minggu. Semua keputusan ada ditangan Mag, atau Duncan bisa mencari wanita lain, tetapi siapa lagi? pikir Duncan, tidak ada kesempatan lain untuk mendapatkan wanita terhormat dalam genggamannya, toh hanya dengan merayu Mag, apa susahnya...

Bagaimana reaksi Mag ketika mengetahui siapa sebeneranya sang Earl? bagaimana reaksi saudara-saudaranya? dan siapa sebenarnya Toby? dan alasan apa dibalik kaburnya sang Earl dengan Laura?.. terlalu banyak rahasia pokoknya hehehe :D

yah.. intinya Hidup itu tidak sempurna, tinggal bagaimana kita memilih untuk menjalaninya..(less)

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Feb 29, 2012 Melodramaticfool rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: enjoyable-and-light

This was one of the better books from the Huxtable series. It was more passionate in my opinion and wasn't so frustrating. The other two books the men were made int o Rakes, scoundrels of some sort but approved of by society. It was a nice change when the man was in fact not approved of by society and turned out to be a decent man but not a boring man. He was frank for the most part, and what secrets he did keep were reasonable. Both characters deserved happiness so readers were honestly satisfi...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Brianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The heroine of At Last Comes Love is Margaret Huxtable, an aging spinster of the type who gave up her youth in order to raise her suddenly orphaned family. Recently turned thirty, Margaret has decided to marry a friend. However, an old lover returns and throws Margaret's life into a bit of disarray and after she tells him that she's already betrothed, she finds that her friend is already betrothed. Uh oh. And thus Margaret meets our hero, Duncan Pennethorne, Earl of Sheringford. Duncan is in des...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Toni rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the third book in the Huxtable Family series, and it is a most enjoyable story. The characters of Duncan and Margaret are given more depth than this type of romance usually allow. Duncan is a man of honor and care, and because of that honor, is forced into a situation where he commits one of the greatest sins of all. He returns to England, not for himself, but because of his son, and when he meets and marries Margaret, he realizes she won’t be just a convenience but is the one woman with...more This is the third book in the Huxtable Family series, and it is a most enjoyable story. The characters of Duncan and Margaret are given more depth than this type of romance usually allow. Duncan is a man of honor and care, and because of that honor, is forced into a situation where he commits one of the greatest sins of all. He returns to England, not for himself, but because of his son, and when he meets and marries Margaret, he realizes she won’t be just a convenience but is the one woman with whom he will share the passion which he effectively shut out of his life when he ran away with Laura Turner. Duncan is strong but secretly uncertain of the outcome of some of his actions; he sees things through to their ends though he fears it may be disastrous; he has inner reserves of character but in one instance, he actually breaks down and cries because of his fears for his son, showing how much he loves the child. Margaret is level-headed and rarely acts on emotion alone until shortly before meeting Duncan, when her former suitor returns. Her little lie that Duncan is her affianced backfires when he pursues her. She is depicted as sensible enough to allow him to explain about the affair, and doesn’t go off in high dudgeon, demanding he never speak to her again or denouncing him when he reveals Toby’s existence. The usual little plot devices are absent. Though there are obstacles in all shapes and forms, the story runs contrary to the expected clichés by having both a sensible, though passionate hero and heroine facing them. Even their idea of falling in love with each other after the wedding is a delightful twist on either spouse being indifferent and having to be wooed by the other. The other characters, the members of Margaret’s family and their assorted spouses, make numerable appearances, taking up the tales of what happened to them since they each were featured in their own novels.

At Last Comes Love is a wonderful story of love and trust and the fact that things are not always as they appear, and sometimes a great wrong must be done to prevent an even greater one. I highly recommend it and am eagerly awaiting the next, which, I understand, is the story of the Huxtable heir, Stephen, Lord Merton. Looking forward to it!
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Aug 17, 2011 Kath S rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Margaret tiene treinta años y ha pasado mucho tiempo cuidando a sus hermanos. Pero ahora, cuando su ex vuelve, se ve en la obligación de empezar a buscarse su propia vida. Quiere casarse y tener hijos, formar una familia.

Duncan a todas luces parece un canalla sin corazón, con muchos problemas y secretos encima. Cinco años atrás representó un gran escándalo y ahora es un paria en la sociedad.

Y entonces los dos se encuentran, y él, impulsado por sus circunstancias le pide que se casen, y ella, que...more

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Sep 18, 2010 Elizabeth Reeve rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Full review (rather, set of reviews) here.

So, I sort of have a thing for marriage of convenience narratives. This book has one of those, written extremely well, with characters who I would totally hang out with in real life (assuming the existence of time travel, etc.). On top of that, the secondary characters aren’t just background – the heroine’s family are a big part of her life, and important to the progression of the story.

But what really set this book apart for me was that even though the...more

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Jun 07, 2010 Elaine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think this is my favorite Huxtable book so far. I am not sure if it is because I feel like I know the characters better, or if it is just a better story.

Margaret/Meg/Maggie is the oldest sister and the oldest sibling in the family. She has been more mother than sister to the others since their real mother died. Due to that, she put her own life on hold.

Finally, her two sisters are married and her brother has reached his majority. Margaret decides it is time to finally accept the offer of marri...more

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

Shelves: romance

Margaret Huxtable has sacrificed her life and happiness to raise her brother and sisters at the cost of her first love, Crispin Dew. She was devastated to learn that the man that she gave her heart to married someone else while he was away at war but she has gathered herself together and continued quietly on and supported her sisters through successful courtships into happy marriages. Crispin suddenly reappears as a widower with a young child and expects to resume where he left off but Margaret...more

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Jan 09, 2011 Melinda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library, romance

Book 3 of the Huxtable Quintet series, on audio, all narrated by Anne Flosnik. What did I think?

I think Flosnik has picked up a little speed in her narration, which makes it eminently more listenable, and there weren't as many scenes for her to be overly emotional (excepting Duncan's mama, who was always emotional). Without the breathy emotional scenes, it wasn't as irritating as Book 2 where she embarrassed me by..., well, read my review.

I think Flosnik's narration has not enhanced the experien...more

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Oct 28, 2010 Nisha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bluestocking-independent-spinster, historicalromance, marriage-of-convenience-or-arranged, super-large-family-series

I know I've been rating all the books (so far) in the series four stars. But, I guess there are different levels of starhood. Like this one. I loved it the best, but not enough to give it 5 stars.

Margaret Huxtable is nearly officially a spinster. And with the return of her ex-beau (who also married, had a child with a Spanish lady, and later been widowed), her unmarried state has become an embarrassment. To save face against ex-beau, she fabricates a fiance and gets herself betrothed to a man w...more

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Jun 15, 2010 Linda G rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Yes, if like historical Regency romances

Recommended to Linda G by: Myself

Shelves: historical-romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 27, 2009 Ana T. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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

I think that the Huxtable series is improving with every book that comes out and this third book is now my favourite in the series.

This is the story of Margaret Huxtable, the older sister of the Huxtables, the one that stayed home to take care of her siblings and that by doing that had to refuse an offer of marriage of her childhood friend, Crispin Dew, and despite them having an understanding she later discovered he had married while fighting in Spain.

When the story opens Meg has finally deci...more I think that the Huxtable series is improving with every book that comes out and this third book is now my favourite in the series.

This is the story of Margaret Huxtable, the older sister of the Huxtables, the one that stayed home to take care of her siblings and that by doing that had to refuse an offer of marriage of her childhood friend, Crispin Dew, and despite them having an understanding she later discovered he had married while fighting in Spain.

When the story opens Meg has finally decided that it’s time to marry, her sisters are married and Merton is 23 and well settled as the Earl so they don’t need her anymore. She is decided that the next time the Marquess of Allingham proposes to her, as he has done for 3 times in the last 5 years, she will accept. She is usually a composed and sensible young woman but when faced with Crispin Dew, back from the war and widowed with a small child, she can’t resist showing him that she wasn’t affected by his desertion and she tells him she is engaged to be married but that the relationship is still a secret. Imagine her surprise when at a ball that same night, she finds out that the Marquess of Allingham has in the mean time betrothed himself to someone else so she will be caught out on a lie. But that is when she encounters Duncan Pennethorne, the Earl of Sheringford. Unexpectedly she feels unsettled and tells him about her situation and with Crispin Dew approaching Meg doesn’t resist telling yet another lie and introducing Duncan as her fiancée.

Now Duncan is hardly a spotless hero. Five years before, on the eve of his wedding, he run away with his bride’s sister in law and only just now returned to England, after her death. He has just had his funds cut off by his grandfather and he is in desperate need of a wife. If he can find a bride and marry in the next two weeks his grandfather will restore his allowance. So naturally, after Meg speaks to him he is very eager to pretend he is her fiancé and eventually make it real. Meg’s words soon are the subject of everyone’s gossip and even if she is prepared to admit to her lie and never see Duncan again, he now feels that he has to propose.

Considering his reputation no one in Meg’s family wants her to accept, very much like what happened in the previous book when she prepares to receive him, her whole family advises her against it. Maybe it’s not so surprising that Jasper seems to be the one willing to give Duncan the benefit of the doubt. It is a credit to Mary Balogh’s wonderful storytelling that she can convince us not only that sensible Meg would tell her most important and dear thoughts to a stranger in a crowded ballroom but that she would also consider marrying him despite his black reputation. And that we root for him to succeed!

I think one of the best things about this story is how honest the characters are. When he proposes Duncan tells Meg everything that is done, albeit not why, and why he has to marry in such a rush. Meg is tempted; she can’t help but be attracted to someone who seems so different from all the safe and boring young men she has met before. But since she doesn’t know him she gives him her condition. He will woo her and at the end of the two weeks she will decide if she will marry him or not. Duncan accepts and so they find themselves in each other’s company every day.

I think this was my favourite part of the book. Them getting to know each other, Meg realizing that there’s more than meet the eye about Duncan while being exposed to everyone else’s opinion of him. And Duncan who starts to appreciate Meg for who she is but unwilling to tell her the whole truth and wanting her to accept him with his black reputation. However, he is forced to share some of it and Meg does decide to marry him. The truth about what really happened five years ago eventually comes out and that’s the only thing that I found, well not unreal, but maybe a bit too convoluted to be entirely believable. I find it a bit unbelievable that someone would ruin his reputation and possible happiness, just to help someone that is virtually a stranger. Also the villains were a bit over the top, just there to insult the main characters and nothing more. But I suppose we had to have something really shocking and then there had to be some villains to make Meg’s family rally in support of the newlyweds. Still I’m very happy with it; it reminded me of those early Balogh’s I’m always saying are my favourites.

I can’t say I’m very curious about Merton’s story; he just seems the usual nice young man who will find a bride, marry her and have lots of babies, end of story. However I already know it won’t be like that as Mrs. Balogh decided to pair him up with someone of a different type. I continue very curious about Con’s story and I hope we start having clues soon about what’s going to happen to him.

Grade: 4.5/5
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Jan 07, 2013 Abra rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: regency-romances, re-read, 2013

I've read everything Mary Balogh has written, since twenty years ago or more, when the way to find her old titles was to go into a Trade-a-Book (real name of the store) in a strip mall in Columbia, Missouri, and exchange a bag of books by authors like Edith Layton, Barbara Metzger, Johanna Lindsey, and Bertrice Small for a new bag of used books by ... well, by Mary Balogh. These days I don't read any other kind of romances than Regencies, and there are really only three authors I can read: Mary...more I've read everything Mary Balogh has written, since twenty years ago or more, when the way to find her old titles was to go into a Trade-a-Book (real name of the store) in a strip mall in Columbia, Missouri, and exchange a bag of books by authors like Edith Layton, Barbara Metzger, Johanna Lindsey, and Bertrice Small for a new bag of used books by ... well, by Mary Balogh. These days I don't read any other kind of romances than Regencies, and there are really only three authors I can read: Mary Balogh, Mary Jo Putney, and Jo Beverley, pretty much in that order.

This book, At Last Comes Love, is the third of her Huxtable Quintet, and is as enjoyable as all of her work. Balogh manages to combine reasonable period detail with her main themes: sex is awesome (especially straight PIV intercourse, which she describes graphically) and even better when combined with lurve; even aristocrats can be nice people, concerned with equality and spirituality; and dialogues about emotional vulnerability tug at a reader's heartstrings. In the Regency Romance universe, you have to get married after having premarital sex, but at least (unlike, say, the Barbara Cartland universe) you can HAVE premarital sex. Balogh has always been good at the steamy part of these romances. In this Quintet, a young man comes unexpectedly into an inheritance after growing up as the son of a rural vicar, and he and his three sisters, and finally their illegitimate cousin (who would have been the Earl, instead of the young man, had he been born two days earlier) all get a book detailing their discovery of true love. Each of the books is well-written, which is always true for Balogh, who was an English teacher in Canada before she was able to transition to full time writing. And each focuses on the path of true love being not only un-smooth, but very unlikely indeed. In the first (First Comes Marriage), the new Earl's middle sister determinedly proposes to his toplofty (legitimate) cousin in order to make things easier for the whole family. This despite the fact that the toplofty cousin has conceived a strong dislike of said widowed sister. In the second, (Then Comes Seduction) his youngest sister -- still older than him -- is embroiled in a scandalous wager through no fault of her own, and eventually trapped by the power of gossip in marriage with a rake. In this one, the eldest sister, who has sacrificed her youth to bring the family up after the death of first their mother and then their father the Vicar, catches herself in the trap of a hasty lie, and must marry a virtual stranger whose background is nothing BUT scandal. It's a good story, with -- as all romances must have -- a satisfying ending.(less)

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Oct 07, 2011 Kristy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, historical-love, hott-spots, widget-shelf

This one was a little slow. But I liked the ending. It seemed as though their love developed slower, so it was more believable. I loved that Duncan was actually a good, honorable guy even though everyone thought he was the worst of the worst.

I also liked that Elliot laughed and joked in this book. I like that Balogh is continuing the other stories in a way. I like that she is showing how he is still changing.

Something I really didn't like, was when Margaret got mad at Duncan at the end, and she...more

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Nov 29, 2011 Lori McD rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british-lit, chick-lit, favorite-author, fun-fluff, guilty-pleasure, regency, romance, series, tough-subject-matter, 2011_read

Hmmmm.... I'm still making up my mind about this book, because I've already started into book #4 "Seducing an Angel". And I'm already shaking my head, wondering how 3 of 4 Huxtables will end up with a less-than-desireable spouses -- at least, according to Society. These wonderful, good, innocent, loving people seem constantly involved in the most dramatic of soap-opera plots!

Margaret (Meg or Maggie) is the eldest. She put aside her own wants and needs at the age of 17, when she promised her dear...more Hmmmm.... I'm still making up my mind about this book, because I've already started into book #4 "Seducing an Angel". And I'm already shaking my head, wondering how 3 of 4 Huxtables will end up with a less-than-desireable spouses -- at least, according to Society. These wonderful, good, innocent, loving people seem constantly involved in the most dramatic of soap-opera plots!

Margaret (Meg or Maggie) is the eldest. She put aside her own wants and needs at the age of 17, when she promised her dear, dying papa that she would take care of her 3 siblings and see them through until they are of age. And so she did. Despite being quite a beauty with a voluptuous figure. Meg turned many male heads when her younger brother Steven was pronounced Earl of Merton. Suddenly, the family was swept from almost-poverty, where Meg had to count every penny possible, to untold riches AND a place in Society. Meg could have married many times over, if she'd only allowed herself to be courted. Instead, she worried over Katherine until her marriage, and Steven until he came of age.

So when Katherine is settled, and Steven is of age, Meg realizes that she's 30 years old. She's always done what's expected of her -- or more like, what she's expected of herself. She's pushed down her own feelings and needs and wants in favor of her family, despite their trying to push her to think of herself. But at 30, Meg has decided that she wants to be married, and that she'll make it so during the very next Season. But she stumbles onto her one, lost love (Crispin Dew), and tells a lie that spirals into wedding a man she barely knows within 16 days time. {You see, Meg had fallen head-over-heels in love with Crispin, who was off to a career in the army. He'd wooed and apparently bedded her right before leaving for war, promising to write to her and to come back and make her his wife. Except that he never did; and 5-ish years ago, she discovered that he'd taken a wife in Spain.}

The man that Meg/Maggie marries is Duncan Pennethorne, Earl of Sheringford, aka Sherry. Sherry is also 30 years old, and recently back in Town after a notorious scandal that he was part of 5 years ago. On the eve of his wedding, Sherry ran off with his married sister-in-law, leaving his bride virtually at the altar. Sherry and the sister-in-law (Lauren) lived 'in sin' for the past 5 years; Lauren died just 4 months ago. And Sherry discovered that his grandfather, the Marquess of Something, has cut off his (Sherry's) allowance and inheritance; that is, unless Sherry can marry a woman that his grandfather finds suitable before his grandfather's 80th birthday -- 16 days away.

Of COURSE there's an entire backstory that takes forever to be completely revealed. And even when the smallest part of it is revealed, it's an ugly story that just gets uglier with each revelation. I was surprised at the ingenuity of the author during the full revelation. It seemed so out of place for a "romance" novel... but people truly do ugly things to one another, and this book drags you through it all until the bitter end. Except that, of course, all is well by the end... only the true villains are left to their bitterness.

Forgive me for being so cynical. There is much to this book that is delightful and enjoyable. But it seemed a lot like Katherine's story "Then Comes Seduction" in that Margaret and Duncan barely knew one another before being married, and then had to embark on the CHOICE to court and woo one another and not to rely solely on their mutual physical attraction and good sex. To me, Margaret deserved so much more. Not that Duncan isn't truly a "good guy", who took the blame upon himself for so many things that he didn't do only to spare a lady and her secrets from the awful truth. It's just that, while Meg probably did need to assert herself and drop her predictable ways, it just seems so out-of-character for her to behave as she did. I wanted something different for Meg, something less scandalous and more light. In truth, I'd been hoping that Meg and Con would get together, and that the book would be about their figuring out how madly in love they'd been with each other for the past few years. (And yes, I wanted to find out Con's full story -- the truth about what happened to separate Con and Elliot.) But alas, none of that was to be.

I did really like something that Duncan points out to Meg (or Maggie, as he calls her): That the two of them are too much alike -- that each knows how to love and how to give... but not how to be love and how to accept -- how to be vulnerable and risk. Each has retreated to his or her own strengths to mask or push down their true selves and their true feelings. And so, in one another, they truly start to find freedom to be themselves and to love. And because they have so much in common - such tenderness and sensitivity for others - it seems as if it won't take too long for them to have their happily-ever-after (HEA).

EXCEPT it's never that easy, is it? A child is involved... and while Ms. Balogh gave us a clue before the wedding, it was such an obscure clue, who would ever pick up on it? And while Duncan does tell Maggie the truth about the child, he only reveals *most* of the truth. I really don't understand how or why not revealing all of it to her, certainly after she's met the child, would seem so... difficult for him to do. The ugliness has nothing to do with him; but we've passed so many of the possible Big Misunderstandings that could have held them back... and Duncan has been so forthright with everything else, we and Maggie assume that's all there is to the story. WHY Duncan would hold back the most important part is beyond me. But we had to have SOMETHING to separate our hero's and heroine's happiness, just when they were finding true love, didn't we?

I can only give this book 3 stars. Sad, because I'm sure a lot of that has to do with my OWN wishes for what Meg's story would be. And I'm not at all sure that Ms. Balogh has done a disservice to any of her readers with the story that she chose to write. But I find myself wondering how the Bedwyns can choose mates that don't quite meet Society's standards, and yet not have all the same scandal attached to them as the Huxtables do. When you think about it, only Josh (Freya's husband) truly had a scandalous past. I guess I wasn't prepared for the Huxtable stories to be so full of ... scandal, angst, heartache... some things perhaps too real to be in a romance novel?(less)

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Mar 12, 2013 Blackribbon31 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 24, 2012 Jessi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, 2012-challenge, appealing-characteristic-story, historical, part-of-a-series, romance

Margaret Huxtable, the oldest of the Huxtable siblings, is, at thirty, unmarried. But she's run into her old flame, the man she gave up in order to care for her siblings. He went off to war, promising to love only her, but marrying a Spanish woman. Now he's back, looking at her with pity, so she invents a fiance. But the man that has twice offered for her in the past is now engaged to someone else. What is she to do?
Duncan Pennethorne, Earl of Sheringford, kicked up quite the scandal when he abs...more

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Jun 15, 2010 Sbuchler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010, romance

Genre: Regency romance

I started re-reading the _Slightly_ series and got onto a Mary Balogh kick. Unfortunately, the Huxtable series has so far disappointed. I got sidetracked away from the first one in the series (_First Comes Marriage_) because the excerpt for _At Last Comes Love_ was so funny. However, most of the book is not funny. Even the scene the excerpt came from was far less funny in context.

The story is of Margaret Huxtable, eldest of the Huxtables, who was left in reduced circumstanc...more Genre: Regency romance

I started re-reading the _Slightly_ series and got onto a Mary Balogh kick. Unfortunately, the Huxtable series has so far disappointed. I got sidetracked away from the first one in the series (_First Comes Marriage_) because the excerpt for _At Last Comes Love_ was so funny. However, most of the book is not funny. Even the scene the excerpt came from was far less funny in context.

The story is of Margaret Huxtable, eldest of the Huxtables, who was left in reduced circumstances to raise her siblings after both her parents died. She doesn’t relinquish this job when her teenaged brother unexpectedly inherits an earldom. It’s now been 5 years and her brother Stephen has reached adulthood. She’s now thirty, and feels quite left on the shelf. She’s been refusing offers for years both because of her responsibility to her family and because she’s been carrying a torch for an old sweetheart who promised her marriage, went off to war, and married someone else. Now her old flame (Crispin Dew) is back in town, and a widower with a young daughter. He’s obviously interested in Margaret, but she no longer wants him after the way he’s treated her.

To avoid Crispin, Margaret runs headlong into the disreputable Duncan Pennethorn, Earl of Sheringford – who has just been given an ultimatum by his grandfather – marry a respectable woman in the next 14 days or be cut off entirely. Duncan ’s back story is complex, and its revelation takes most of the novel. Duncan proposes marriage to Margaret immediately on meeting her. Initially she thinks it’s a joke, but it becomes clear he’s quite serious. For reasons that aren’t very clear (although Crispin undoubtedly plays a role in them) Margaret allows Duncan to court her. Slowly it becomes clear to her that despite his running away with a married woman and leaving his own fiancé on the alter five years ago, it was also the most moral and ethical choice he could’ve made.

The “getting to know you” scenes between Duncan and Margaret are quite sweet – and the book has a very deft touch portraying two people who don’t know each other very well embarking on marriage and trying to make it a successful one. In that sense it’s a very sweet portrayal of the love-after-marriage storyline, between two adults. However, it mostly left me cold. I like Duncan and Margaret better then any of the other Huxtable heroes or heroines … in fact Duncan may be one of the most admirable romance heroes ever, however I never get a sense that they take joy in each other. We’re told they do, and we’re given the synopsis of scenes that presume they do, but we’re never shown those scenes. From the scenes shown, I believe that Duncan and Margaret have come to understand each other and be comfortable together… but I wanted more.

I agree with the criticism I’ve seen that:

(1) The Huxtable books are all the same storyline. So far, they are, even to the point of including an outdoors sex scene to celebrate the discovery of love. It doesn’t help that the sisters are pretty interchangeable as characters – I don’t get the sense that there’s anything one says that one of the others wouldn’t say.

(2) The villains are incredibly one-dimensional. Luckily they barely appear in the action, so it’s not too annoying.

The sex is less explicit then most Balogh novels, however it’s certainly not “fade-to-black”. Unfortunately I didn’t feel like the sex really forwarded Margaret and Duncan ’s relationship. Their wedding night was awkward and sweet, but every other sex scene seemed irrelevant to both the story and to their relationship.(less)

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Feb 15, 2012 Mornie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a heartwarming, intriguing story between Margaret and Duncan. It's one of those books that you could just FEEL the characters falling in love. The chemistry between the two leads is palpable. Margaret is a strong character whom I could relate to. She felt real. I thought she was a bit more of a complex character than Duncan was, but Duncan was is possibly one of my favorite heroes EVER. He's a rake and is completely sweet. He's not one of those aloof heroes who really annoy me. There is...more

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Apr 07, 2013 May rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-series, british-romance

You are never too old to love and marry. even in those historical times ..

I loved Margret from the first book. She's pretty, loyal, proper, and not a fool like some young girls you read about. She have been taught by life, shaped by her previous lover betrayal. Currently all she wants from life is to be married and have children although she is not considering love in that equation.

Duncan. It takes gut to do what he did. How can you not love him ? I also liked that he isn't refereed to as handso...more

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Nov 17, 2012 Melody May rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, romance

Also http://sillymelody.blogspot.com

At Last Comes Love, this story I always have a hard time remember to story line. Don't get me wrong it is a good story, I just hadn't form an attachment to Meg like I have with the other family members. However, when I start talking about the series I remember more and more what happen in this book. This book focuses more on Margaret Huxtable (Meg) the eldest child in the family. She tries to run away from her former love who just came back from the continent...more

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Jun 15, 2012 Indiana rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, historical, romance, earl, regency-england, did-not-keep

Bleh. I have a pile of romance novels that I haven't read yet so even though I haven't been in the mood to read straight up romances, every now and then I feel I should at least attempt one in order to whittle down the pile. So I read...or rather I attempted to read this one. Oh it was so insipid! Its the 3rd of her recent Huxtable series. I think I didn't mind the heroine in the previous two books when she was just the older sister and not the heroine. But in this one? Bleh. I ended up skimming...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Nur Amira Zahiah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The most favourite from all Huxtables family..well, except Constantine. The eldest Huxtable, Margaret wait for her first and only love, Crispin Dew but ending up broken when Crispin married a Spanish lady.

When Crispin came to London to pursued her, all Margaret wanted was to hurt him. The love was vanished and I really love it when Margaret 'Meg' told him her fiance wouldn't be liking it if she accept his hand for the evening ride. I felt like kicking his leg. Awesome and cool Meg!

But the night...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Patria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mary-balogh

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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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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Quotes from At Last Comes Love

“Falling in love was as much about receiving as it was giving, was it? It seemed selfish. It was not, though. It was the opposite. Keeping oneself from being loved was to refuse the ultimate gift.
He had thought himself done with romantic love. He had thought himself an incurable cynic.
He was not, though.
He was only someone whose heart and mind, and very soul, had been battered and bruised. It was still - and always - safe to give since there was a certain deal of control to be exerted over giving. Taking, or allowing oneself to receive, was an altogether more risky business.
For receiving meant opening up the heart again.
Perhaps to rejection.
Or disillusionment.
Or pain.
Or even heart break.
It was all terribly risky.
And all terribly necessary.
And of course, there was the whole issue of trust...” — 21 people liked it

“But there were certain moments in life that forever defined one as a person - in one's own estimation, anyway. And one's own self esteem, when all was said and done, was of far more importance than the fickle esteem of one's peers.” — 5 people liked it

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At Last Comes Love (Huxtable Quintet #3)

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