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Slightly Married (Bedwyn Saga #1)

3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 · rating details · 4,569 ratings · 233 reviews

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

Meet the Bedwyns…six brothers and sisters—men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality…Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction…where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal…and where Aidan Bedwyn, the marriage-shy second son, discov...more

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Published April 1st 2003 by Dell (first published 2003)

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Jan 08, 2012 Dina rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Dina by: BJ Rose

Shelves: historical-romance

I've yet to find a book by Ms. Balogh that I didn't love. Her writing always sucks me into the story right from the start, with slightly (no pun intended) imperfect characters that I can't help but feel strongly about. Taking this book as an example, my eyes were already misty when I finished reading the 1st Chapter, and I had just met the heroine Eve...

Slightly Married is a beautifully slow paced story, completely focused on Aidan's and Eve's emotions and the loving relationship that grows betw...more I've yet to find a book by Ms. Balogh that I didn't love. Her writing always sucks me into the story right from the start, with slightly (no pun intended) imperfect characters that I can't help but feel strongly about. Taking this book as an example, my eyes were already misty when I finished reading the 1st Chapter, and I had just met the heroine Eve...

Slightly Married is a beautifully slow paced story, completely focused on Aidan's and Eve's emotions and the loving relationship that grows between them despite their "best intentions". Aidan starts off being rather cold, reserved and grim, but as he slowly falls in love with Eve, his demeanor starts to change and he opens himself up to the possibility of a life of happiness with her - something that he's never dreamed of when he proposed a marriage of convenience to her. Eve's a rich coal miner's daughter, sweet but strong, and the least likely candidate for marrying one of the aristocratic Bedwyn brothers, but Aidan's remarkable sense of honor and duty is stronger than this "mere" social inconvenience. He's promised her dying brother to protect her, no matter what!, and if marrying her is the only protection Aidan can offer Eve, so be it. It's not supposed to be a real marriage at all, but life has a way of getting in the way of best laid plans...

Aidan was a difficult hero to love at first, due to his stiffness - please, keep your minds out of the gutter, LOL - and coldness, but once his facade started cracking up, I fell for him as strongly as Eve did. And when he finally smiled at her for the 1st time... When he kept finding excuses to delay his departure... When he took her swimming in the river... *sighs*

On the other hand, Eve was extremely easy to love from the start. For a moment, I was afraid she was going to cave under the pressure of Aidan's older brother, the mighty Duke of Bewcastle, but she stood her ground not only once but twice. She was willing to submit to Bewcastle's demands to a point in order to help Aidan, but she was no pushover.

If I had one "problem" with this book was, there was something "off" with the love scenes. I don't know if I've been reading too much erotica/romantica lately, but I didn't feel much passion in Aidan and Eve's lovemaking. There was hardly any foreplay - the 1st time, they didn't even bother to undress - and Aidan came across as the ultimate wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am guy. The fact that Eve always reached the Big-O was only because they were in Romancelandia. Anyway, that didn't really bother me because Ms. Balogh had me around her little finger all through the story and, quite frankly, I wouldn't have minded if there were no love scenes at all. Yes, that's how much I love her writing!

Note: I feel like the Bedwyns deserve a "special" comment from me. I didn't like any of the Bedwyn siblings when I met them in A Summer to Remember, and I admit that I only read Slightly Married because Aidan wasn't in that book and therefore was "saved" from my wrath, LOL. Now that I've read this book, I don't dislike them anymore - except Freyja, who I still want to kill slowly and painfully - and I'm interested in reading the next books in this series.
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May 18, 2013 Susana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, historical-romance, 2013-favorites

This was such a nice surprise!

The first book i've read by this author and i loved it!

I've just finished it, and i've this big stupid smile on my face, because the story was that cute, and interesting, and the final pages had just the right amount of sweetness!

“There is something infinitely better than happily-ever-after. There is happiness. Happiness is a living, dynamic thing, Eve, and has to be worked on every moment for the rest of our lives. It is a far more exciting prospect than that sill...more

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May 22, 2010 K. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Romance period film and book lovers

Shelves: author-balogh-mary, available-on-kindle, on-my-kindle

One thing you can say about Mary Balogh's writing: It consistently delivers that PBS/BBC period film feel! "Slightly Married" was no exception. I certainly envisioned the panoramic shots of England's town and country of the early 1800's without a problem, as well as the pacing of the story - flowing out like a nice, captivating BBC production. I think a lot of that feel can be attributed to her trademark "emotion-centered" romances that give a consistent viewpoint from both the hero and heroine...more One thing you can say about Mary Balogh's writing: It consistently delivers that PBS/BBC period film feel! "Slightly Married" was no exception. I certainly envisioned the panoramic shots of England's town and country of the early 1800's without a problem, as well as the pacing of the story - flowing out like a nice, captivating BBC production. I think a lot of that feel can be attributed to her trademark "emotion-centered" romances that give a consistent viewpoint from both the hero and heroine of the story.

No secret that I'm a big fan of Balogh and usually pick up her books for a sure bet of both a comforting story and emotional engagement with the characters. I've had her Slightly series on the TBR for quite a long time, and finally got around to picking up the first book, "Slightly Married." For the 4 or 5 romance readers on the planet that still remain who've either not read the series or heard of the family, quickly -- it evolves around the aristocratic Bedwyn family consisting of 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls, each book of the series focusing on each of their love stories.

"Slightly Married" is Aiden, the second son's story, featuring our heroine, "Eve," a Welsh coal miner's daughter whose father aspired to get as close to "gentry" as he possibly could. Alas, although her father died a landowner with a decent enough estate, they remained on the "fringe" of true gentry, and her father was never able to secure an aristocratic marriage offer for her hand.

Colonel Lord Aiden Bedwyn happens into Eve's life by way of coming upon one of his men dying on the battlefield - her brother, Captain Percy Morris. With his dying breath, Percy secures his colonel's promise that he will protect his sister, Eve, "No matter what!" Percy, having once saved Aiden's life in another skirmish, and Aiden naturally being a gentleman of the highest honor, he seeks out Eve to deliver the tragic news of her brother's death, and of course see how he might assist in any "protection" required, fulfilling his promise. He finds Eve on the brink of destitution, and quickly comes to understand the urgency of Percy's dying concerns. Eve and Percy's father bequeathed his estate to Eve for one year, to pass onto her brother Percy if she failed to marry a titled gentleman within that time period. Alas, circumstances didn't happen that Eve was able to fulfill the terms of the will, but she continued to have faith in Percy's remaining alive, and her continued welcome in her childhood home by her beloved brother should he inherit by default. With his death however, the estate became entailed to her truly evil cousin, whose given her collected "menagerie" of a family/household, until noon on the 1 year deadline to vacate the premises. Aiden finds her in this state upon his arrival and, one thing leading to another, offers her marriage in order to fulfill his bargain with her brother, "No matter what."

Balogh launches the hero and heroine into a series of unfolding events that allow each of them to get to know the other better, yet each remains under the premise that they maintain a marriage of convenience where the other participant would rather they part and never interfere in the other's life again. The story is filled with pangs of the heart, as the protagonists fall deeply, yet secretly from each other, in love with one another. Balogh writes one of the most tender and romantic culminating love scenes between the two that any true romantic "period film" lover could ask for. *deep sigh* The dialogue and setting of their encounter is truly emotional and captivating!

Any romance reader needing a lazy trip down a poignant and subtle path to two people discovering love where they never expected it . . . oh . . .and also being fresh out of BBC period productions to watch, will be satisfied with "Slightly Married." If that sounds about right for your particular taste, don't hesitate to pick this one up!
K.

[Note: No graphic love scenes, but not "closed bedroom door"; no violence; no graphic language.]/(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Anna D. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: sweet-moments, favorites

After reading the Bedwyn Prequels, it was odd to be introduced to the Bedwyn series with Aidan since we didn’t meet him at all in the two Prequel books.

From reading some reviews, I was all set to love this family and though they are supposed to be a haughty aristocrat family.. I LOVE them, I DO! Balogh writes them so that readers don’t view them as the rest of England views them. Their comments and actions may seem cold, but we know from the way they interact with each other that they really are...more After reading the Bedwyn Prequels, it was odd to be introduced to the Bedwyn series with Aidan since we didn’t meet him at all in the two Prequel books.

From reading some reviews, I was all set to love this family and though they are supposed to be a haughty aristocrat family.. I LOVE them, I DO! Balogh writes them so that readers don’t view them as the rest of England views them. Their comments and actions may seem cold, but we know from the way they interact with each other that they really are very down to earth and pragmatic. I like that they are incredibly honorable, and dutiful, and no-nonsense; and in their very core they are a good, kind bunch. Not one of them would let the others get away with less. They were raised to uphold the station they were born into but it is so evident that they were also raised with love. The family tradition that no Bedwyn, once married, ever pursues or participates in a dalliance outside the marriage is an example to the type of person this family breeds.

I liked that Aidan didn’t just fall in love with Eve at first sight, that the driving force in his decision to marry was his honor, to keep the promise he made to Captain Percival “Percy” Morris, Eve’s brother. So the plot starts off as a marriage of convenience that inevitably turns into a love story. Conversely, Eve accepts the proposal because she feels it’s her duty to provide for her “lame ducks,” including the orphans she’s come to accept as her own children. Can these two be any more selfless?

Eve starts to fall for Aidan as she starts to experience what loving actions are – actions that protect her interests, her feelings, and especially her children. Such a difference from her experience with John, Viscount Denson. She can finally have someone to depend on without even having to ask. Aidan falls for Eve by being herself. In their interactions Aidan sees in her the woman that he can’t live without: independent, selfless, caring, and undemanding of him. By being herself, she allowed Aidan to open up, smile, and freely offer himself to her.

There were so many unforgettable scenes in this book I want to mention – mostly so I don’t forget them if I ever re-read my review in the future: (view spoiler)

There were numerous supporting characters in this book and I felt each one was essential, necessary, and with a purpose. Not only to tell the story fully but also to give it a sense of family and community. I love Wulf and like most readers, I’m looking forward to his story.
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May 11, 2012 Suz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, romance

*Dreamy sigh* How in the hell did this historical romance kick happen to me? I blame Noa and Kitt (and Mary Balogh - wow these are well done books!)

This book put me through an emotional wringer. I'm trying to figure out if there are no tropes in Mary Balogh's books or if there are just different tropes in this genre and I'm so new to it that I don't know them yet. Either way, it seems pretty refreshing to me and I'm glad of it.

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Nov 23, 2012 Jess rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-all, 2012-new, library-ebook, romance, romance-historical

~~Review later, but this was GREAT.~~

Okay, so now that I'm not on my phone, the GREAT thing stands, but I can say more about it that will probably sell certain of you on it, namely Katie and Grace. Because this is a marriage of convenience that ends up being more story and it's SO well done. I mean, yes, sort of fast, but I personally am more accepting of that in historicals and it's tied up in the fact that they wanted each other before they realized that it was more than that and in that they were...more

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Mar 15, 2013 Vanessa Montês rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pensamento das primeiras páginas: "Damn it, o livro não me está a prender nada..."
Pensamento a meio do livro: "OMG, omg!! Kiss, kiss, kiss!!"
Pensamento no fim do livro: "Nnnnããããooooo!!! Quero mais Aidan fofinho!!"

xD

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Jun 10, 2012 Natalie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I haven't read a Mary Balogh book in a very long time. I thought I'd read another book by her which I didn't care for, but goodreads recommended this book and I decided to take a chance. Especially since I love historical novels set in England.

Before writing this review, I finished this book and decided to go through the entire series. Having done that, I have to say this was an excellent series.

I find myself at a bit of a loss for words when it comes to this book though. It wasn't a favorite of...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic-reads

Recommended by fellow bookseller Janice (I think she considered me deficient in that I hadn't read a Mary Balogh book yet in my current state of hoovering down romance novels).

I got smart and decided to start at the beginning of the series since I'd scotched several by reading middles or lasts.

I really liked Aiden and Eve's story - a very different set-up in the source of their marriage than the usual marriage-of-convenience/ton-marriage plot. The family that Eve has created for herself from the...more

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Jan 15, 2012 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, historical-romance, mary-balogh

This is my first book by this author and I found it based on the Goodreads recommendation feature. I'm really glad that I decided to give this one a try because now I have a whole slew of books that I can read and enjoy.

The heroine in this story is Eve, and she has just received news that her brother has died while enlisted with the military. She is distraught and to make matters worse, it's a stranger delivering the news. Colonel Lord Aidan Bedwyn is the son of a Duke and is hand delivering the...more

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Oct 12, 2011 Tracy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Read the full review: http://bcplreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Summary: Slightly Married is the story of Aiden—the second eldest sibling—and Eve Morris, a woman whose security is threatened by the untimely death of her brother in battle. Captain Lord Aiden Bedywn takes the tragic news to Eve personally, determined to uphold his promise to Eve's dying brother to protect her "no matter what." As it turns out, Eve's inheritance is...more Read the full review: http://bcplreviews.blogspot.com/2011/...

Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Audience: Adult
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)

Summary: Slightly Married is the story of Aiden—the second eldest sibling—and Eve Morris, a woman whose security is threatened by the untimely death of her brother in battle. Captain Lord Aiden Bedywn takes the tragic news to Eve personally, determined to uphold his promise to Eve's dying brother to protect her "no matter what." As it turns out, Eve's inheritance is contingent on her marrying a gentleman within a year of her father's death, a deadline that is fast approaching. Otherwise, her smarmy cousin will inherit the unentailed estate and fortune, then toss Eve and her many dependents out on their rumps. So of course Aiden decides the only honorable thing is to marry Eve, then leave to continue his military career and never see her again. Eve reluctantly agrees since she hasn't heard from her secret fiancé in more than a year and she feels responsible for the well-being of her servants, her spinster aunt, and two young orphans. But when the Duke of Bewcastle discovers his brother's secret marriage, he insists that Eve be trained as a lady and properly presented to society to avoid damaging the family's reputation.

Tracy's Thoughts:
First, I have to make a confession: Generally, I am not a fan of marriage of convenience plots. So that may have interfered in my enjoyment of the story. But the main problem, for me, was the relationship between Aiden and Eve. I like fireworks and lots of banter in my romance reads and I found Slightly Married... lacking. I never really felt that their relationship grew or developed, or if it did, most of it happened off-scene. Their main obstacle was guilt. By the time each realizes that they actually like being married, each worries about what the other would have to give up (Aiden his career or Eve her home and dependents) so that they can be together. And that gets very old very fast.

I was much more interested in Eve's interactions with Aiden's pretentious siblings, Wulfric and Freyja. They are both unbelievably arrogant but just the tiniest bit vulnerable... I want to read their stories. Aiden's more lighthearted brother, Alleyne, was also intriguing. Aiden was a cipher through most of the book. Eve was slightly more interesting, but her habit of taking in the helpless hit me as a bit ridiculous, and a cliché to boot. Really? All of these troubled servants just happen to stumble upon Eve's country home?

Still, the Bedwyn family dynamics merit further exploration, and Balogh's writing is solid and her representation of the period is well done. I found the Bedywn family's aristocratic snobbery to be much more grounded in reality than the easy-going liberalism of many fictional families in historical romance (e.g., Quinn's Bridgertons). And yet, simply stated, Slightly Married just lacks that special spark to make it memorable.(less)

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May 23, 2011 Netha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

buku mary balogh pertama yg ku baca & ternyata aq suka
tp eng ing eng ternyata series lagi.. duh kenapa semua buku bagus pasti berseri???

bercerita ttg Colonel Lord Aidann Bedwyn yg karena merasa berhutang budi pd captain morris karna demi menolongnya capt. morris kehilangan nyawanya akhirnya lord. adrian, anak ke 2 late duke of bewcastle & adik dr current duke.
karna janjinya pd capt. morris membawa lord aidan ke ringwood manor menyampaikan pesan terakhir capt. percy morris kepada adiknya...more

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Oct 11, 2010 Nadine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

In retrospect, this was a very run-of-the-mill romance, with some really preposterous plot points. But I enjoyed it, I spent lots of time reading it this weekend when I should have been doing other things like sleeping or washing dishes, so I give it 4 stars.

Basic plot: Eve's father died, leaving her the family estate, but she has to get married within a year of his death or she loses it all. Adrian shows up when she has one week left, he discovers the pickle she's in (an added wrinkle is that...more

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Sep 03, 2010 Bobs (Reader Unbound) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, author-balogh-mary

Slightly Married is the first book of the Slightly series by Mary Balogh. As I have never come into anything by this author I did not know what to expect, but I was up to a pleasant surprise.
This book is about Alain, a colonel in her Majesty's army and the second heir of the Bedwyn, and Eve a coal miner's daughter ( and as if that wasn't scandalous enough she is slightly Welsh).
Most of the actions takes place in Eve's home or in London.
The plot is simple as the main mechanism that runs it is t...more

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Jun 05, 2013 Sandra rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, meu, asa, 3-star

3,5

Este livro é simplesmente adorável.

Adorei o personagem principal masculino, o coronel Lord Aidan Bedwyn. Aliás, toda a família Bedwyn é muuuito interessante.

Mas aquela Eve Morris é uma insossa! Ai que ela faz e desfaz pelos mais desfavorecidos, é um anjo de pessoa, uma doçura de estragar os dentinhos

Gosto das personagens imperfeitas. Não sei porquê mas parecem mais reais.

A única coisa que não me fez "ir aos arames" com esta personagem, foi o fato de a autora lá ter criado um antigo amor que p...more

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May 30, 2013 Andreia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, my-own-books

Depois de um interregno de leituras durante quase dois meses, devido a compromissos da faculdade, sabe bem pegar num livro e devorá-lo num dia. Este livro de Mary Balogh é um doce, daqueles que nos deixa com um sorriso nos lábios depois da sua leitura (e por isso mesmo leva 5 estrelas). Dento dos romances do género tem algum enfoque para a época, apesar do romance ser obviamente o principal condutor da história.

Os personagens principais são bem construídos, sendo que o destaque vai para a person...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Joana rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: emprestado

Desta autora ainda só li o livro Um Verão Inesquecível. E posso dizer que gostei e como até tinha curiosidade na família Bedwin decidi apostar no primeiro livro da colecção.

Ao início não me recordava muito bem das personagens que iria ou poderia vir a encontrar, tirando Freyja, da qual ainda me lembrava perfeitamente. No geral é um livro que se recomenda para os apreciadores do género. Os personagens são carismáticos, e fazem-nos rir ou ficar tristes com os seus momentos. A maneira como a autora...more

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Feb 10, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, e-book, fiction, lis-590kk, love-story, period-piece, romance, relationships

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

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Aug 29, 2010 MashJ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first book in the slightly series (if you ignore the various prequels like "A Summer to Remember") and ignore later books like the simply series! Mary Balogh is happy to weave her various characters into the plots in her other books so I had come across some of the characters before. It is the story of Aidan, the second of the Bedwyn children, and Eve, the daughter of a coal miner.

It was a pleasant read with appealing characters and a nice supporting cast using the Bedwyns in Aidan's side an...more

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Jun 07, 2009 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

On my second reading of this book, I have a bit more appreciation for the arrogance of the Bedwyns, which I didn't much like the first time around. Ms. Balogh manages to make them unapproachable and yet appealing at the same time. After re-reading Summer to Remember, I thought it unlikely that she would be able to capture that same standoffish, haughty manor of theirs and yet make them likable. Just goes to show what a good writer she is, because by the end of the book, I was actually hurting fo...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Tania Martins rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

E já o acabei, esta autora está a revelar-se um prodígio a cada dia que passa, estou uma verdadeira fã desta Saga...

Desta vez começamos finalmente a conhecer a história dos Bedwyn, devo dizer que inicialmente não simpatizei muito com o arrogante Aidan mas a forma como ele se redime ao longo do livro e conquista a protagonista Eve deixou-me completamente rendida até porque a história tem uma nuance ligeiramente diferente que é, o facto dos protagonistas não se apaixonarem "de caras" ou seja não é...more

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Feb 27, 2011 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have no idea how this book ended up on my library hold list. Every time I saw the cover and decided to remove it from my list, I'd think, "Surely this is not the crappy romance novel it appears to be. It must be some gem in disguise because my hold list only has 25 spaces, they are all always full, and I would never waste a space on some dumb mass market romance novel, right?!?"

But alas, the cover represented it well. Completely predictable and not even very well written, the best I can offer...more

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Jul 04, 2010 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No One

Recommended to Lisa (Harmonybites) by: The Complete Idiot's to the Ultimate Reading List

Shelves: historical-fiction, romance, ultimate-reading-list, novels, fiction

OMG, this was so stupid. First, it's one of those "marriage of convenience" stories set in Regency England with the most contrived device I've seen even. Unless the heroine marries within four days, she will lose her inheritance and her estate--turning out her unemployable servants as well. The scene with the servants featured dialogue that went like: "Oh, but you're such a good cook, you'll have no trouble finding another place." "But Miss, once they find out I worked for that brothel..." Anoth...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Zumbagirl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: brothers, captain-colonel-soldier-hero, close-siblings, marriage-of-convenience, 2013, non-virgin-heroine, starchy-hero-gets-unstarched, opposite-side-of-the-tracks

This was my first read for 2013 and also my first Mary Balogh that I did not love. Sigh. That's the problem with high expectations - eventually they come crashing down. That's not to say it wasn't beautifully written - it was, as all of her books are, and I always enjoy her style and delivery. It may just be my preferences; specifically I don't like marriage-of-convenience themes. Plus, when a couple both find themselves in a situation and they keep repeating to themselves in words or substance...more

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Dec 21, 2010 Lucie "a heart so wild" rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-darling-heroine, my-darling-hero, my-most-romantic-historical-romance, exciting, great-tension, marriage-at-convenience, very-steamy, witty-heroine, reserved-hero, brave-heroine, unforgettable-love-story, favorite

This is much2x above "A Summer to Remember"...
Only by its 1st chapter, the story had intrigued me, I'm so curious what will happen with them next...

When a dour, humorless,haughty, grim Colonel Lord Aidan Bedwyn's (heir of the "Bewcastle" Dukedom) fellow officer, Capt. Morris, who had saved his life in the battlefield several time almost dying, he asked a favor and promise to Col. Aidan "Promise me you will protect my sister, No matter what, NO MATTER WHAT" in his last breath. He answer "I give...more

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Apr 15, 2013 Tempo de Ler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

«Eles eram de mundos diferentes. (…) Mas não eram mundos, eram universos.»

O coronel Lord Aiden Bedwyn está habituado a esconder-se por detrás de uma dura fachada militar, mas se é severo e, aparentemente, desprovido de humor, Aiden é também um homem de palavra…e quando o capitão Morris, a quem Aiden deve a própria vida, cai em batalha no sul de França, o coronel não tem outra opção senão prometer-lhe três coisas: 1) dará pessoalmente a notícia da morte de Morris à sua irmã, Eve; 2) não a deixará pôr luto e 3) irá protegê-la a qualquer custo…Claro que, na altura em que fez estas promessas, Aiden desconhecia a extensão das mesmas…
Eve lida com a insuportável agonia da sua perda em ao mesmo tempo que se vê obrigada a enfrentar problemas bem mais práticos: o pai havia-lhe deixado a propriedade em herança apenas por um ano, enquanto solteira…ou definitivamente, se resolvesse (finalmente) casar…
Com apenas 5 dias até à conclusão do prazo, Eve e Aiden acabam por se ver Ligeiramente Casados…

Eis o que mais gosto em Mary Balogh: a autora não se limita a juntar duas personagens enamoradas, fá-las apaixonarem-se! Prossegue com a história quando muitos já a dariam por concluída. Define o carácter das suas personagens através das suas escolhas em tempo de acção.

Assim, Eve e Aiden ganham tempo para se conhecerem um ao outro, para crescerem pessoalmente e mudar atributos individuais de personalidade e nós ganhamos tempo para conhecermos ambos através de uma narrativa que espelha maravilhosamente o esplendor da época, a frivolidade e as regras da aristocracia e as expectativas da sociedade.

Balogh recheou Ligeiramente Casados com fantásticos e curiosos detalhes que nos ajudam a construir uma forte noção sobre a ambiência e sobre o desfasamento entre Eve e Aiden a nível social. E, o mais maravilhoso, fá-lo sem debitar!

A aleatoriedade parece reinar sobre os acontecimentos, com inesperadas casualidades a empurrar constantemente os protagonistas em direcção um ao outro. Ao adicionar, inicialmente, a componente de escassez de tempo Balogh faz-nos entrar na história curiosos com o seu desenvolvimento, intrigados por descobrir se Aiden é movido por bondade ou dever.

…E entretanto, os termos da relação vão mudando…Eve vê-se irremediavelmente atraída por Aiden, ele por ela…e nós pelo livro!!
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Jul 29, 2012 Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

To the Point: An enjoyable romantic story that doesn’t disappoint those accustomed to Balogh’s tales.

In More Detail: (spoilers) This is the second Balogh novel I have read recently and there are numerous similarities but enough differences that it was as enjoyable as the last book. I enjoy that Balogh has created attractive although not handsome characters. I felt some of the moments in my stomach which is my favorite sort of ache. She gives believable insight into the male characters. The main...more To the Point: An enjoyable romantic story that doesn’t disappoint those accustomed to Balogh’s tales.

In More Detail: (spoilers) This is the second Balogh novel I have read recently and there are numerous similarities but enough differences that it was as enjoyable as the last book. I enjoy that Balogh has created attractive although not handsome characters. I felt some of the moments in my stomach which is my favorite sort of ache. She gives believable insight into the male characters. The main characters, Aiden and Eve, are both extremely likeable characters. I enjoyed the way Balogh dealt with the more evil character Cecil. He is a worthless type of creature and I was happy to see him embarrassed when he came to kick out the household and was told that Eve was now married and that he would not be taking possession of the property. I also very much enjoyed when his attempts to take away the foster children was not successful and that Wulf came to be one that saved the day. I am most looking forward to seeing what happens with Wulf in this series. He is my favorite character although I enjoy them all. I loved several of the passages enough to want to re-read them aloud to further their impact – particularly when Eve is describing what type of man she would be able to love forever. I found it interesting and believable enough that both Eve’s and Aiden’s sense of pride and duty would leave them uncertain if staying or leaving was the right thing to do and also that loving could be asking too much. Balogh wove the tale well enough that the tension was tangible but a realistic moment created when they are both free to share their love and believe in the response of the other. How wonderful to fall in love with a stranger that has come to save you and how wonderful that by saving you, he has been ultimately rewarded as well. I did feel for Mrs. Knapp whom Aiden had believed he would marry prior to his promise to Eve’s brother. I found it an interesting part of the story and out of character that Aiden wouldn’t have found it unforgiveable to disengage from that potential relationship without at least a communication to the General (Mrs. Knapp’s father)of the situation.

Style: Balogh’s style is easy to read. The novels are set in the past, in and around London. She includes sex scenes.
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May 18, 2013 Lizzy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013, favoritos, review

Os personagens de Mary Balogh me inspiram admiração e angústia, na mesma proporção. Isso ocorre porque, tratando-se de um romance histórico realmente fidedigno aos costumes e comportamentos de sua época, é verdadeiramente exasperante verificar que pessoas tão cheias de qualidades vivem reprimidas por uma sociedade movida pelas aparências e pelo status social. Mas isso não é uma crítica negativa ao livro, ao contrário, é o reconhecimento de um texto bem escrito, forte, por vezes desconcertante pe...more

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May 03, 2010 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, historical-romance

This first book in the Slightly Series by Mary Balogh which introduces us to the Bedwyn family started off a bit slow for me. I was kind of bored with the story at first and annoyed with Colonel Aidan Bedwyn and his insistence that he fulfill his duties “no matter what!” I can’t completely relate to that kind of character. To me, there are always contingencies, situations, difficult of otherwise, which would hinder our ability to “perform our duty.” But as I progressively read the novel, I began...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Lori McD rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: british-lit, chick-lit, easy-read, historical-fiction, napoleonic, romance, tear-jerker, 2011_read

Wow! I've enjoyed a book or two by Mary Balogh recently, but none so much as I did this book. I had tears in my eyes several times, as Ms. Balogh's writing is poignant, witty, descriptive, and so encompassing that I felt as if I were there.

At the end of the Napoleonic wars, Captain Lord Aidan Bedwyn finds himself at the side of the man who saved his life in a previous battle. The man, Percy Morris, is dying. And with his dying breath, he extracts a promise of honor from his Captain: a promise to...more Wow! I've enjoyed a book or two by Mary Balogh recently, but none so much as I did this book. I had tears in my eyes several times, as Ms. Balogh's writing is poignant, witty, descriptive, and so encompassing that I felt as if I were there.

At the end of the Napoleonic wars, Captain Lord Aidan Bedwyn finds himself at the side of the man who saved his life in a previous battle. The man, Percy Morris, is dying. And with his dying breath, he extracts a promise of honor from his Captain: a promise to protect his sister, no matter what. Aidan travels to deliver the news to Eve Morris, thinking that he can offer some small service and then proceed to his family estates and spend the rest of his 2 month leave enjoying and reacquainting himself with his family, whom he hasn't seen in person for the past 4 years.

But Aidan finds that Eve is in need of much more protection that he'd thought to offer. While she would never tell him herself, Aidan learns that in 4 days, Eve will be destitute -- turned out of her home and lose her family fortune to an odious cousin, Cecil. And not only Eve, but the rag-tag bunch that Eve has formed a family with... all good people whom have been snubbed by any society for having some sort of "past", and 2 orphaned children whom cousin Cecil can't be bothered to take in. The only possible way to prevent this from happening is if Eve were married. And so Aidan does the honorable thing: he marries Eve, thus making her Lady Aidan Bedwyn. Except that the marriage of convenience that the two of them agreed upon is disrupted time and again, as Aidan and Eve find themselves constantly thrown together. Will these two independent people who are so used to duty and honor and taking care of others find their way to each other? And can they consummate this marriage (to make it a true marriage) and separate intimacy from love?
--------------

OK, so much for the summary, here's my review: Perhaps I've become too easy and overly sentimental these days, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It seemed to carry the right amount of balance for me. Yes, there is The Big Misunderstanding, and not just 1, but at least 2... or perhaps there are several Small Misunderstandings between Eve and Aidan... But I was grateful that none of them were overly dramatic or overblown. Each had their own private emotions of jealousy, anger, and fear, but neither really took it out on the other.

And I truly felt as if I had the privilege to hear both Eve's and Aidan's most private thoughts... and I didn't find myself cringing or snickering. I especially enjoyed Aidan's private thoughts, and seeing how this staunch stiff-upper lip duty-and-honor-at-all-costs man discovered that it's not weakness to feel true emotion... or to be vulnerable enough to love and be loved.

Perhaps this being Veteran's Day, I found the book especially enjoyable for Britain's celebration of victory over Napoleon and the honoring of brave soldiers, such as Aidan (Captain).

The book's premise and characters could easily have been overshadowed with the "devices" of the romance-formula or drama for drama's sake. But they were not. Their author and editor did an excellent job of staying within the expected bounds and still providing a fresh, emotional, lovely tale of romance -- including duty and honor.

And I dare anyone to not be moved by the last scene in the book... have a box of tissues handy! (less)

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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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A Summer to Remember (Bedwyn Prequels #2)

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Quotes from Slightly Married

“I have read somewhere that we often spend a lifetime searching for what we already have.” — 17 people liked it

“What sort of man could you love for a lifetime?" he asked her.
She was silent for a while. He guessed that she was considering her answer.
"A kind man," she said. "When we are young and foolish we do not realize how essential a component of love kindness is. It is perhaps the most important quality. And an honorable man. Always doing the right thing no matter what."
His heart sank-on both account.
"And a strong man," she said. "Strong enough to be vulnerable, to take risks, to be honest even when honesty might expose him to ridicule or rejection. And someone who would put himself at the center of my world even before knowing that I would be willing to do the same for him. A man foolish and brave enough to tell me that he loves me even when I have hidden all signs that I love him in return."
"Eve-" he said.
"He would have to be tall and broad and dark and hook-nosed," she said. "And frowning much of the time, pretending he is tough and impervious to all the finer emotions. And then smiling occasionally to light up my heart and my life."
Good God!
"He would have to be you," she said. "no one else would do. Which is just as well, considering the fact that I am married to you...” — 10 people liked it

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Slightly Married (Bedwyn Saga #1)

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