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Stapleton-Downes #4
Lord Carew's Bride
Samantha Newman is getting older, but though she is beautiful and courted by a large number of gentlemen, she is restless and unhappy. While she is staying in the country with her friends Jennifer and Gabriel, she takes a walk alone and wanders onto the property of the reclusive Marquess of Carew. She meets him far from the house and mistakes him for a landscape designer. He is an ordinary-looking man and is half crippled. He is also friendly and unassuming, and Samantha soon relaxes into a warm friendship with him. It is only much later, back in London, when she is again threatened by the man who broke her heart years ago during her come-out Season, that Samantha discovers who her friend really is. And this time she is tempted to settle for the contentment of friendship in order to escape the pain of love.
Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1995
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About the author
Mary Balogh
196 books6,276 followersMary Jenkins was born in 1944 in Swansea, Wales, UK. After graduating from university, moved to Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach high school English, on a two-year teaching contract in 1967. She married her Canadian husband, Robert Balogh, and had three children, Jacqueline, Christopher and Sian. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, music and knitting. She also enjoys watching tennis and curling.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
January 13, 2016
Yes, you read that right. 7 times. This is the 7th time I've read this, and I still loved it. Heck, I think I will always love Lord Carew's Bride. LOVE in caps lock and bold, italicised, underlined letters, just in case you can't see how intense my feelings for this book are. (Now you do.)
I'm not even ashamed to admit that this glowing, shining 5 star rating is mainly due to Hartley, our hero. I don't know about you, but I'm a hero-centric reader, so it's the main guy who makes or breaks a book for me.
And Hartley was every bit the perfect man. He might have been imperfect on the outside—with his limp and broken right hand—but he was perfect for me. I love him so much it scares my boyfriend. (Actually, just between you and me, I've already decided to name any son I will have in the [hopefully distant] future "Hartley Sebastian" in honour of this book's hero and of Sebastian St. Vincent from The Devil in Winter. I know I should at least squeeze in my boyfriend's name somewhere, but "Hartley Sebastian Gabriel" hardly seems fair on a kid. Oh, well!)
Every smile she gave Hartley Wade was a treasure to be stored up for future pleasure, because each smile was guileless and sincere as well as utterly beautiful. Every word she spoke to him had been committed carefully to memory.
Sigh. Isn't that just poetry to your ovaries?
He wondered if he was being hopelessly fanciful, hopelessly romantic, to believe that he would always remember her, always love her.
Or at least, what used to be your ovaries before they exploded into smithereens.
And he would never let his wife suffer. For the rest of his days, he would devote himself to her happiness.
Oh, Hartley, I would gladly make fictional babies with you. Devote yourself to me, lover boy.
For answer he leaned forward and kissed her swiftly on both cheeks, brushing away the salt tears with his lips.
Let's fill a whole imaginary baseball stadium with our fictional babies.
As you can see, Hartley was very devoted, humble and (insert all nice qualities you could think about here). He's had the short end of the stick in life: he's been widely criticised for his limp and disfigured hand, and women were only after his money and title. I'm pretty sure you know the type; it's the usual Beauty and the Beast situation.
But what isn't usual is Hartley's reaction to what he was. Unlike most heroes in the trope, he wasn't a bitter, angsty person who hated everyone who spurned him. Sure, he was lonely, but he was never angry or vengeful. He didn't have that toxic angst that men in similar circumstances were wont to have. Instead, he accepted his circumstances maturely, channeling his energy on things he could control. Furthermore, he was always kind and understanding to others, even his critics.
That is why, he is one of my all-time favourite heroes.
And I guess, that's why I've always had mixed feelings about Samantha, our heroine. The unforgiving fangirl in me felt that she was not good enough for him. Well, you see, Lord Carew's Bride is really an exploration of the different faces of love. (Wow, did I just get all philosophical on you? Sorry, just bear with me.) Samantha has only seen the destructive aspect to it; how wild, unbridled passion could burn so fiercely but so painfully, as well. She never knew that love could also be safe, comfortable and kind. That's why she never realised that she was already in love with Hartley until the last 10% of the book.
Believe me, there were times when I just wanted to bitchslap the shit out of her.
Instances when I wanted to reach inside the book, and shake some sense into her.
But it would be unfair to Samantha to hate her for that. She was perfectly justified in her actions. As a reader, you would understand why she acted the way she did. And to be fair, she really was likeable, if you can get past her annoying naiveness. Her protective feelings towards Hartley was endearing, and just what he needed.
"Whole?" She looked into his eyes. "You mean because of your accident? Do you think that makes a difference to me? Because you limp? And because you have lost some of the use of your hand? You are whole in every way that could possibly be of importance to me. I regret these things only in that they cause you distress."
She lifted his right hand to rub her cheek against his fingers. She turned her head to kiss them.
I just want to mention a couple of things here, though. I want to say it explicitly: Hartley mentioned his dead mistress, Dorothea, a couple of times. If you know me, you would know that that's more than enough reason to get my panties in a twist; however, this didn't bother me at all. Why? Well, I guess that's because I felt that what really existed between him and Dorothea was nothing more than friendship. He respected her, yes, but there was absolutely no trace of any heated sensuality, or longing, or love, in the way he spoke of her. Nothing at all to warrant you getting jealous on Samantha's behalf. You would really feel that our heroine was special to him. Plus, he wasn't a manwhore, by any means. He had slept with one woman his whole life, a woman who died long before he met Samantha. So yes, that detail never bothered me.
Also, I think I should mention that if you're not acquainted with Mary Balogh's writing, you might find this rather tepid. This is not a sexy, steamy story. It is, however, one of the the sweetest I've ever read, and I hope you give it a chance.
September 14, 2011
This was a charming Beauty and the Beast tale, which is a favorite theme of mine, mixed with a "love at first sight" story.
Hartley Wade, the Marquess of Carew, was the self-titled "Beast". Crippled by a riding "accident" at the age of six, he walked with a limp and had a crooked and useless right hand. Despite that - or, should I say, because of that - he'd grown up to become one of the most confident and emotionally strong heroes I've met. He was nice, caring, supportive and, wonder of all wonders, didn't jump to wrong conclusions when faced with situations that could easily lead to the hatred Big Misunderstanding that plagues Romancelandia. Honestly, he was anything but a "Beast", and I fell in love with him way before I was halfway through the story.
Samantha Newman was the ton-proclaimed "Beauty". Even though she was already twenty-four years old and on her seventh - gasp! - London Season, she had her own court of steady suitors and was still single by her own choice only. She'd been deeply hurt by events that happened in Dark Angel (Dark Angel, #1), the first book in this series, so she'd chosen to live a somewhat staid life and avoid the turmoil brought by love. Even though I wanted to shake some sense into her for not seeing what was right in front of her eyes a couple of times, I did understand her insecurities - after all, there's a thin, thin line between hatred and love...
The "love at first sight" theme took me by surprise: Hartley was in love with Samantha by Chapter 1, and he loved her by Chapter 2. That made me pause and think, would I buy that? Well, I shouldn't have doubted Balogh's writing skills. I bought it all! Even the fact that it was a mutual love at first sight, though it took Samantha a lot longer to realize that what she felt for Hartley was more than friendship. She was just afraid to call it "love", since she thought that emotion only lead to dispair.
Have I mentioned that there was no Big Misunderstanding in this book? There was definitely room for it more than once - Hartley omitting to tell Samantha about his title and Lionel (Hartley's cousin and Samantha's first "love") revealing to Hartley his past relationship with Samantha, for example - but Balogh chose wisely and didn't go that way. I admit that my eyes got a little misty when I read the scene where Hartley talked to Samantha after he found out about her past with Lionel. Wonderfully done, Ms. Balogh!
Lord Carew's Bride (Signet Regency Romance) (Dark Angel, #2) was all about Hartley and Samantha, and their journey to find love and conquer each other. There was a good set of interesting secondary characters - many of them with their own books, either previous or next in the series - but Lionel Kersey, the Earl of Rushford, deserves a special mention. He was one of the most hatred villains I've met. I just hated him! Everytime he appeared on scene, I wanted to slap his handsome face and pummel his gorgeous body. I was literally cheering when Hartley did just that. :)
Bottom line, I really loved this book, and Hartley and Samantha are going to stay with me for a long time. Balogh is kind of a new author to me - yeah, I'd been living in a cave, LOL - and this is only the fourth book by her I've read, but she hasn't disappointed me yet. Quite the contrary!
Hartley Wade, the Marquess of Carew, was the self-titled "Beast". Crippled by a riding "accident" at the age of six, he walked with a limp and had a crooked and useless right hand. Despite that - or, should I say, because of that - he'd grown up to become one of the most confident and emotionally strong heroes I've met. He was nice, caring, supportive and, wonder of all wonders, didn't jump to wrong conclusions when faced with situations that could easily lead to the hatred Big Misunderstanding that plagues Romancelandia. Honestly, he was anything but a "Beast", and I fell in love with him way before I was halfway through the story.
Samantha Newman was the ton-proclaimed "Beauty". Even though she was already twenty-four years old and on her seventh - gasp! - London Season, she had her own court of steady suitors and was still single by her own choice only. She'd been deeply hurt by events that happened in Dark Angel (Dark Angel, #1), the first book in this series, so she'd chosen to live a somewhat staid life and avoid the turmoil brought by love. Even though I wanted to shake some sense into her for not seeing what was right in front of her eyes a couple of times, I did understand her insecurities - after all, there's a thin, thin line between hatred and love...
The "love at first sight" theme took me by surprise: Hartley was in love with Samantha by Chapter 1, and he loved her by Chapter 2. That made me pause and think, would I buy that? Well, I shouldn't have doubted Balogh's writing skills. I bought it all! Even the fact that it was a mutual love at first sight, though it took Samantha a lot longer to realize that what she felt for Hartley was more than friendship. She was just afraid to call it "love", since she thought that emotion only lead to dispair.
Have I mentioned that there was no Big Misunderstanding in this book? There was definitely room for it more than once - Hartley omitting to tell Samantha about his title and Lionel (Hartley's cousin and Samantha's first "love") revealing to Hartley his past relationship with Samantha, for example - but Balogh chose wisely and didn't go that way. I admit that my eyes got a little misty when I read the scene where Hartley talked to Samantha after he found out about her past with Lionel. Wonderfully done, Ms. Balogh!
Lord Carew's Bride (Signet Regency Romance) (Dark Angel, #2) was all about Hartley and Samantha, and their journey to find love and conquer each other. There was a good set of interesting secondary characters - many of them with their own books, either previous or next in the series - but Lionel Kersey, the Earl of Rushford, deserves a special mention. He was one of the most hatred villains I've met. I just hated him! Everytime he appeared on scene, I wanted to slap his handsome face and pummel his gorgeous body. I was literally cheering when Hartley did just that. :)
Bottom line, I really loved this book, and Hartley and Samantha are going to stay with me for a long time. Balogh is kind of a new author to me - yeah, I'd been living in a cave, LOL - and this is only the fourth book by her I've read, but she hasn't disappointed me yet. Quite the contrary!
September 2, 2016
This book is so full of suck, it could cold-start an 18-wheeler from the tailpipe. And yes, I am a minority opinion on this, but I think I know why.
To begin with, the main couple are just heartbreakingly naïve. How they let this Lionel fartweasel dance rings around them is just unbelievably stupid. They, both of them, know from deep and personal experience what a slimemonkey he is and that they let him jerk them around at all breaks new ground in the idiocy frontier. This just drives me up a wall from both sides of the reader experience. First, Lionel makes zero sense as a character. He's a psychopath, plain and simple, and I find those boring and unoriginal. Worse, most authors have to stoop to manipulation to make such characters work and this is no exception. Someone like that, who has left a trail of devastation in his wake, simply wouldn't have the resources and access and wit to do the things he does. You can get away with such an arch-villain in a superhero story, maybe, but romance? Yeah, not the place.
Second, to work, the author has to further manipulate the main characters so that they don't communicate and so that they don't use the brains God gave fungus. So much pain could be avoided if they had the wits to believe the simple and obvious truth—that Lionel is a lying, scheming, scum-sucking armpit who should be spit on before thrown into the gutter where he belongs. They, both of them, know this already, for heaven's sake. And frankly, Samantha's having any kind of palpitations about him is sad, sick, and wrong and makes me despise her, just a little bit.
A lot of this reaction is personal taste. Psychopathically evil antagonists just don't work for me. Because they are stupid and unoriginal. But also because I am, at heart, a paladin and they are my natural prey. And having them safely ensconced in a novel with an indulgent author manipulating things for them is supremely frustrating on a deeply emotional level that ruins any chance for me engaging with the novel. I'm glad I skipped the others in this series because it looks like he was a main antagonist in all of them. I only regret I bothered with this one (because all my friends who have rated it gave it four stars, so yeah, I really am the outlier here).
To begin with, the main couple are just heartbreakingly naïve. How they let this Lionel fartweasel dance rings around them is just unbelievably stupid. They, both of them, know from deep and personal experience what a slimemonkey he is and that they let him jerk them around at all breaks new ground in the idiocy frontier. This just drives me up a wall from both sides of the reader experience. First, Lionel makes zero sense as a character. He's a psychopath, plain and simple, and I find those boring and unoriginal. Worse, most authors have to stoop to manipulation to make such characters work and this is no exception. Someone like that, who has left a trail of devastation in his wake, simply wouldn't have the resources and access and wit to do the things he does. You can get away with such an arch-villain in a superhero story, maybe, but romance? Yeah, not the place.
Second, to work, the author has to further manipulate the main characters so that they don't communicate and so that they don't use the brains God gave fungus. So much pain could be avoided if they had the wits to believe the simple and obvious truth—that Lionel is a lying, scheming, scum-sucking armpit who should be spit on before thrown into the gutter where he belongs. They, both of them, know this already, for heaven's sake. And frankly, Samantha's having any kind of palpitations about him is sad, sick, and wrong and makes me despise her, just a little bit.
A lot of this reaction is personal taste. Psychopathically evil antagonists just don't work for me. Because they are stupid and unoriginal. But also because I am, at heart, a paladin and they are my natural prey. And having them safely ensconced in a novel with an indulgent author manipulating things for them is supremely frustrating on a deeply emotional level that ruins any chance for me engaging with the novel. I'm glad I skipped the others in this series because it looks like he was a main antagonist in all of them. I only regret I bothered with this one (because all my friends who have rated it gave it four stars, so yeah, I really am the outlier here).
December 9, 2021
What a lovely book! It gave me all the feels. I loved the fact that the hero, Hartley is not bitter about his disabilities. He is very optimistic and I think this is the approach that we should adopt in our lives. The heroine, Samantha was deeply hurt during her come out season (the whole thing is in Dark Angel, the previous book in this series and I haven't read this one yet) and she is confused about her feelings toward Hartley - whether it's love or like (of course, it's love. Duh! Who wouldn't love a guy like Hartley?). Overall, a very highly satisfying read.
February 22, 2025
5 Estrellitas. ¡Qué libro más bonito, por favor! Me ha encantado. Definitivamente, Mary Balogh me ha ganado con ésta serie. Es cierto que es de mis favoritas, pero sus libros viejunos me parecían muy lejanos a lo que escribió años después. Con los dos últimos que leí, ha roto los esquemas y me ha recordado a sus mejores obras.
"Lord Carew's Bride" es el cuarto libro de la serie Stapleton-Downs. El primero y el segundo estuvieron encadenados, y el tercero y cuarto también lo están entre ellos.
Éste es el libro de Samantha Newman, la prima menor de Jennifer, protagonista de "Dark Angel". Han pasado seis años del anterior libro y Samantha a sus veinticuatro años está a punto de convertirse en una solterona. Desde el desastre ocurrido con su prima y su ex prometido, Samantha se sintió terriblemente culpable, además de una niña estúpida e inmadura. Por ello mismo juró que no se casaría, pese a tener una buena dote y ser muy hermosa; un canalla la arruinó para el amor.
La temporada está a punto de empezar en Londres y Samantha está pasando el invierno con su prima y su esposo en el campo. Una tarde en que Sam sale sola a pasear, se encuentra con la mansión vecina, y un hombre. Un hombre anodino y lisiado, pero refinado, muy gentil y amable, y que le dice, es el paisajista del marqués de Carew. Tarde tras tarde, Samantha y el señor Wade se encuentran para pasear y enseguida, Sam lo considera su mejor amigo.
Pero no será lo mismo para Hartley Wade, marqués de Carew. No ha sido capaz de decirle la verdad a Samantha. ¿No es mejor, dada su condición, que piense que es un hombre pobre y pueda enamorarse de él por sí mismo? Siendo marqués, a Carew no le faltan atenciones, pero es un lisiado y por su condición se ha convertido casi en un ermitaño.
Todo cambia cuando Samantha tenga que irse a Londres para la Temporada, y sin poder decir nada a nadie de su amistad con un paisajista. El problema será cuando en Londres vuelva a encontrarse con su peor pesadilla, y teme que esta despierte antiguas pasiones que la repugnan. Pero no todo estará perdido, cuando Carew se arme de valor y viaje a Londres dispuesto a luchar por Samantha y conseguir que sea suya, aunque tenga que enfrentarse contra su propia familia.
Pues sí, un hurra por la señora Balogh, porque en esta historia sí lo supo hacer. Samantha es una joven que ya no cree en el amor, o en la pasión porque un canalla la destrozó y no es capaz de fiarse. Cuando conoce a Hartley, sus intenciones no son enamorarse, pero él le da paz, seguridad, amistad y un cariño incomparable. Carew es un hombre bueno, al que su impedimento ha condicionado toda su vida, pero también ha forjado su carácter. Cuando se encuentra con Samantha, es amor a primera vista, y ve en ella más que su belleza, ve a una joven incomparable que fue herida y solo quiere hacerla feliz.
La novela se desarrolla en una serie de clichés, por los que ha pasado bien el tiempo. Tenemos una historia en la que la protagonista se ve dividida por dos hombres, uno al que respeta pero no cree capaz de amar, y otro que destrozó su inocencia y capacidad de amar, y que además ha vuelto para intentar enamorarla. Su decisión final será aquella que le de mayor seguridad, pero que le descubrirá lo que realmente es el amor.
Ha funcionado muy bien. Me ha gustado muchísimo, desde el principio hasta el final. Además, me ha gustado que por una vez, la señora Balogh le de su merecido al malvado, que imagino que no lo hizo en el anterior libro, porque ya lo haría aquí.
Los protagonistas me han encantado. Aquí tenemos a una Samantha ya adulta, muy distinta a la niña que conocimos en el anterior libro. Y Hartley es puro amor, desde el principio de la novela, hasta el final. Me ha gustado muchísimo como la trata y como la ama. Solo ha habido un momento, un giro que ha intentado estropear la felicidad, para acabar reforzándola al final.
Me queda poquito para acabar la serie, y espero que los siguientes mantengan muy alto el listón, al menos los libros de las primas lo consiguieron.
"Lord Carew's Bride" es el cuarto libro de la serie Stapleton-Downs. El primero y el segundo estuvieron encadenados, y el tercero y cuarto también lo están entre ellos.
Éste es el libro de Samantha Newman, la prima menor de Jennifer, protagonista de "Dark Angel". Han pasado seis años del anterior libro y Samantha a sus veinticuatro años está a punto de convertirse en una solterona. Desde el desastre ocurrido con su prima y su ex prometido, Samantha se sintió terriblemente culpable, además de una niña estúpida e inmadura. Por ello mismo juró que no se casaría, pese a tener una buena dote y ser muy hermosa; un canalla la arruinó para el amor.
La temporada está a punto de empezar en Londres y Samantha está pasando el invierno con su prima y su esposo en el campo. Una tarde en que Sam sale sola a pasear, se encuentra con la mansión vecina, y un hombre. Un hombre anodino y lisiado, pero refinado, muy gentil y amable, y que le dice, es el paisajista del marqués de Carew. Tarde tras tarde, Samantha y el señor Wade se encuentran para pasear y enseguida, Sam lo considera su mejor amigo.
Pero no será lo mismo para Hartley Wade, marqués de Carew. No ha sido capaz de decirle la verdad a Samantha. ¿No es mejor, dada su condición, que piense que es un hombre pobre y pueda enamorarse de él por sí mismo? Siendo marqués, a Carew no le faltan atenciones, pero es un lisiado y por su condición se ha convertido casi en un ermitaño.
Todo cambia cuando Samantha tenga que irse a Londres para la Temporada, y sin poder decir nada a nadie de su amistad con un paisajista. El problema será cuando en Londres vuelva a encontrarse con su peor pesadilla, y teme que esta despierte antiguas pasiones que la repugnan. Pero no todo estará perdido, cuando Carew se arme de valor y viaje a Londres dispuesto a luchar por Samantha y conseguir que sea suya, aunque tenga que enfrentarse contra su propia familia.
Pues sí, un hurra por la señora Balogh, porque en esta historia sí lo supo hacer. Samantha es una joven que ya no cree en el amor, o en la pasión porque un canalla la destrozó y no es capaz de fiarse. Cuando conoce a Hartley, sus intenciones no son enamorarse, pero él le da paz, seguridad, amistad y un cariño incomparable. Carew es un hombre bueno, al que su impedimento ha condicionado toda su vida, pero también ha forjado su carácter. Cuando se encuentra con Samantha, es amor a primera vista, y ve en ella más que su belleza, ve a una joven incomparable que fue herida y solo quiere hacerla feliz.
La novela se desarrolla en una serie de clichés, por los que ha pasado bien el tiempo. Tenemos una historia en la que la protagonista se ve dividida por dos hombres, uno al que respeta pero no cree capaz de amar, y otro que destrozó su inocencia y capacidad de amar, y que además ha vuelto para intentar enamorarla. Su decisión final será aquella que le de mayor seguridad, pero que le descubrirá lo que realmente es el amor.
Ha funcionado muy bien. Me ha gustado muchísimo, desde el principio hasta el final. Además, me ha gustado que por una vez, la señora Balogh le de su merecido al malvado, que imagino que no lo hizo en el anterior libro, porque ya lo haría aquí.
Los protagonistas me han encantado. Aquí tenemos a una Samantha ya adulta, muy distinta a la niña que conocimos en el anterior libro. Y Hartley es puro amor, desde el principio de la novela, hasta el final. Me ha gustado muchísimo como la trata y como la ama. Solo ha habido un momento, un giro que ha intentado estropear la felicidad, para acabar reforzándola al final.
Me queda poquito para acabar la serie, y espero que los siguientes mantengan muy alto el listón, al menos los libros de las primas lo consiguieron.
March 23, 2021
I never thought I would ever confess to enjoying a book where the h is in love/lust with another man, and the H is a definite beta- medium heighted, nondescript and disabled as well. Hs with disability/limps/scarring usually exude an intriguing aura but not this H. He apparently has nothing much to offer a woman but his title as a Marquess and his enormous wealth.
But then, Mary Balogh is a very talented writer and just lures you into this almost tale of ‘beauty and the beast’. It is so beautifully written and uniquely executed with relatable flawed characters that it simply draws you in. Once you start, you just have to know how the h will redeem herself in the reader’s eyes, how the H will come out versus his good-looking but deceitful cousin and if at all this marriage will work out.
The villainous cousin is a remnant from the prequel ‘Dark Angel’ where he almost ruins that h and uses this h for his dirty work. Now six years later, he is back from his continental exile and decides he now wants the h. The h, although knowing him to be untrustworthy, still feels drawn to him with that pull from the ‘depth of her womb’! Well!
The H, whom the h first meets during a walk into an adjoining property while on a country sojourn, never lets on that he is the resident Marquess and she assumes him to be a landscape gardener based on his appearance. They meet a few times. He falls in love with her instantly. She thinks him a dear dear friend with whom she feels safe.
Back again in London, the om scares the wits out of the h because of the pull she feels for him, which she knows is wrong but cannot shake it off. So when she comes upon her ‘dear friend’, the gardener and he proposes, she says yes! Very improbable, but there you have it. Only after she accepts, he lets on that he is a Marquess. Her legion of admirers are heartbroken and baffled by her choice but she is calm and resolute.
So they marry, he under the misconception that there is love on both sides and she, thinking that ’love’ and ‘passion’ are dirty words/feelings and only friendship could keep her safe. The H is expectedly crushed when he learns the truth but keeps his calm dignity and the h faces a storm of uncertain, confused emotions in her heart and mind.
The ending is hugely satisfying. Very rarely, we have a full on one-to-one fight between the H and the om. Even better is the humiliation the h heaps on the om.
But then, Mary Balogh is a very talented writer and just lures you into this almost tale of ‘beauty and the beast’. It is so beautifully written and uniquely executed with relatable flawed characters that it simply draws you in. Once you start, you just have to know how the h will redeem herself in the reader’s eyes, how the H will come out versus his good-looking but deceitful cousin and if at all this marriage will work out.
The villainous cousin is a remnant from the prequel ‘Dark Angel’ where he almost ruins that h and uses this h for his dirty work. Now six years later, he is back from his continental exile and decides he now wants the h. The h, although knowing him to be untrustworthy, still feels drawn to him with that pull from the ‘depth of her womb’! Well!
The H, whom the h first meets during a walk into an adjoining property while on a country sojourn, never lets on that he is the resident Marquess and she assumes him to be a landscape gardener based on his appearance. They meet a few times. He falls in love with her instantly. She thinks him a dear dear friend with whom she feels safe.
Back again in London, the om scares the wits out of the h because of the pull she feels for him, which she knows is wrong but cannot shake it off. So when she comes upon her ‘dear friend’, the gardener and he proposes, she says yes! Very improbable, but there you have it. Only after she accepts, he lets on that he is a Marquess. Her legion of admirers are heartbroken and baffled by her choice but she is calm and resolute.
So they marry, he under the misconception that there is love on both sides and she, thinking that ’love’ and ‘passion’ are dirty words/feelings and only friendship could keep her safe. The H is expectedly crushed when he learns the truth but keeps his calm dignity and the h faces a storm of uncertain, confused emotions in her heart and mind.
The ending is hugely satisfying. Very rarely, we have a full on one-to-one fight between the H and the om. Even better is the humiliation the h heaps on the om.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2022
Well done gentle romance with a quiet alpha disguised as beta hero who gets his girl.
The drama comes from the evil OM who has already betrayed the heroine with a faux romance and truly betrayed the hero when, as children, he caused an accident that partially crippled him. Bad, bad guy.
Evildoer is back after a six year banishment to make googol eyes at the h and make the H miserable. Evildoer is the kind of guy that decides when he's done with someone, they don't decide.
Miscommunication results in some understandable silly decisions, and there is an epic comeuppance delivered by both the h and the H respectively.
Low on angst, nice gentle romance.
The drama comes from the evil OM who has already betrayed the heroine with a faux romance and truly betrayed the hero when, as children, he caused an accident that partially crippled him. Bad, bad guy.
Evildoer is back after a six year banishment to make googol eyes at the h and make the H miserable. Evildoer is the kind of guy that decides when he's done with someone, they don't decide.
Miscommunication results in some understandable silly decisions, and there is an epic comeuppance delivered by both the h and the H respectively.
Low on angst, nice gentle romance.
July 5, 2016
Upon a re-read, Carew nearly took my heart with his within the first few chapters of the book. The unfailing kind, poor soul who believes that he may never find someone to truly love him (and this fear is entirely reasonable in his situation) who then experiences a miracle of an angel professing her love for him, albeit initially for different reasons.
Ah, what an emotional journey this was for me. I can't recall the last time I rooted for a hero this wholeheartedly and was so glad for his new-found happiness. Isn't this the reason why we read romance stories?
Ah, what an emotional journey this was for me. I can't recall the last time I rooted for a hero this wholeheartedly and was so glad for his new-found happiness. Isn't this the reason why we read romance stories?
August 15, 2017
Reread this one coming home on a long international flight. I finished all other books that I had left to read on my kindle so I was desperately surfing for a "good read". Balogh is always a solid choice and I selected this one hoping I would enjoy it more the second time around.
However, I still stand by my original rating and review. I really couldn't forgive the heroine's duplicity in "Dark Angel" or in "Lord Carew's Bride". It took a long time for her to see the evil in Lionel. She fell a few more pegs on my opinion of great heroines.
________________________________________
I'm in the minority on this one, but I was a bit disappointed with the story. I was expecting something much stronger. It started off with a bang, but then it just fizzled out. There were also a couple of places where things went in the wrong direction.
I liked the heroine, but at times she acted childish for a 24 year old that had been through several Seasons. Most of the time, she was attracted to the wrong man. She was much more frivolous and self-serving than is typical of Balogh's heroines.
Though the hero was scrumptious, he reacted poorly to something he shouldn't have and that lessened him in my eyes. I could have forgiven him anything, had he groveled more for the hurt he caused.. But everything conveniently reconciled with a "Rocky" type finish that was supposed to show his love and protection. I would much rather have had him pleading with the heroine for forgiveness.
Oh well, not one of my favorites by MB.
However, I still stand by my original rating and review. I really couldn't forgive the heroine's duplicity in "Dark Angel" or in "Lord Carew's Bride". It took a long time for her to see the evil in Lionel. She fell a few more pegs on my opinion of great heroines.
________________________________________
I'm in the minority on this one, but I was a bit disappointed with the story. I was expecting something much stronger. It started off with a bang, but then it just fizzled out. There were also a couple of places where things went in the wrong direction.
I liked the heroine, but at times she acted childish for a 24 year old that had been through several Seasons. Most of the time, she was attracted to the wrong man. She was much more frivolous and self-serving than is typical of Balogh's heroines.
Though the hero was scrumptious, he reacted poorly to something he shouldn't have and that lessened him in my eyes. I could have forgiven him anything, had he groveled more for the hurt he caused.. But everything conveniently reconciled with a "Rocky" type finish that was supposed to show his love and protection. I would much rather have had him pleading with the heroine for forgiveness.
Oh well, not one of my favorites by MB.
April 19, 2016
Samantha Newman was first introduced in the DARK ANGEL. Six years ago she had made her debut with the ton. She also had met and was kissed by the villain Lord Lionel Kersey. There was so much more that happened, and for this important reason, you need to start with that story first.
Fast forward to the opening of LORD CAREW'S BRIDE. Samantha is a four-and-twenty beautiful young woman with no intention of ever marrying. She is currently spending time with her dear friend Jennifer and her husband Gabriel at their northern estate. There are other characters from previous stories in the Stapleton/Downes series that poke their heads in. But no matter what is going on, Samantha still feels something is missing from her life.
While walking on the outskirts of Jennifer's home one day, she is admiring the forested land when she hears a voice. A kindly disabled gentleman with a knack for landscaping introduces himself. As Hartley Wade. True to his name, over the next few weeks, they develop a quiet friendship.
'Mr. Wade' is none other than the reclusive and rich Lord Carew and the owner of the property. He had every intention of telling Samantha whom he is but he sensed in her a deep hurt. She accepts him and that is dearly important; he is an average-looking man with a lame leg and damaged right hand. The hours they spend together walking over the lands fill a void in both of their lives.
And, oh there is so much more that happens with these two heartbreaking characters! I cared for Samantha but I deeply loved Hartley. Except for his money and title, he was not the typical hero we read so much about these days and I enjoyed that.
This is the fourth story in this sort-of-but-not-really-a-series and, at present, my favorite. As mentioned earlier, if you are interested in reading LORD CAREW'S BRIDE just be sure and read DARK ANGEL first. If you don't do this, you won't understand why Samantha and Hartley suffer the way they do. And the villain I mentioned in the first paragraph, Lord Kersey? He finally gets his comeuppance and in a most unusual and deserved way. Yeah!
Fast forward to the opening of LORD CAREW'S BRIDE. Samantha is a four-and-twenty beautiful young woman with no intention of ever marrying. She is currently spending time with her dear friend Jennifer and her husband Gabriel at their northern estate. There are other characters from previous stories in the Stapleton/Downes series that poke their heads in. But no matter what is going on, Samantha still feels something is missing from her life.
While walking on the outskirts of Jennifer's home one day, she is admiring the forested land when she hears a voice. A kindly disabled gentleman with a knack for landscaping introduces himself. As Hartley Wade. True to his name, over the next few weeks, they develop a quiet friendship.
'Mr. Wade' is none other than the reclusive and rich Lord Carew and the owner of the property. He had every intention of telling Samantha whom he is but he sensed in her a deep hurt. She accepts him and that is dearly important; he is an average-looking man with a lame leg and damaged right hand. The hours they spend together walking over the lands fill a void in both of their lives.
And, oh there is so much more that happens with these two heartbreaking characters! I cared for Samantha but I deeply loved Hartley. Except for his money and title, he was not the typical hero we read so much about these days and I enjoyed that.
This is the fourth story in this sort-of-but-not-really-a-series and, at present, my favorite. As mentioned earlier, if you are interested in reading LORD CAREW'S BRIDE just be sure and read DARK ANGEL first. If you don't do this, you won't understand why Samantha and Hartley suffer the way they do. And the villain I mentioned in the first paragraph, Lord Kersey? He finally gets his comeuppance and in a most unusual and deserved way. Yeah!
May 18, 2012
This is a somewhat unusual Regency romance for two reasons. Firstly, the hero isn't an emotionally damaged Adonis, and Secondly - not very much happens! But that's not a bad thing at all - in fact it's rather refreshing. There's no big "misunderstanding" or evil relative trying to get hold of the hero's/heroine's title or fortune; instead this is the story of a young woman who is determined to play safe when it comes to love. Samantha had her heart broken several years before and at the ripe old age of 24, regards herself as being on the shelf. She meets a crippled landscape gardener - in reality, the incredibly wealthy Marquis of Carew - and they strike up an easy friendship. He falls head over heels in love with her at once, and although it's clear to the reader that Samantha is also a good way down the same road, she herself is unable to see it. Carew is merely her best friend, she thinks, and when he proposes marriage, she accepts, thinking he will keep her "safe" from the man who broke her heart.
Carew himself is almost too good to be true - and I suppose if he was angelically/devilishly handsome, he wouldbe. He is not ashamed of his physical imperfections and doesn't suffer from an inferiority complex or any bitterness. He's well adjusted and isn't duped into believing his cousin's lies about Samantha.
Samantha eventually comes to realise that what she feels for her husband is love - not just friendship, and one of the things I really liked about the book was the way it didn't try to diminish the value of true friendship, pointing out how sound a basis it can be for a romantic relationship.
Carew himself is almost too good to be true - and I suppose if he was angelically/devilishly handsome, he wouldbe. He is not ashamed of his physical imperfections and doesn't suffer from an inferiority complex or any bitterness. He's well adjusted and isn't duped into believing his cousin's lies about Samantha.
Samantha eventually comes to realise that what she feels for her husband is love - not just friendship, and one of the things I really liked about the book was the way it didn't try to diminish the value of true friendship, pointing out how sound a basis it can be for a romantic relationship.
October 15, 2019
Another original Regency romance (as original as this genre can be). I wouldn't call it (neither Dark Angel) Heyer-ish but these two made own sub-genre - now I am searching for more novels of this series.
I really liked the idea for the love story. And I don't believe that you can meet Hartley and not sigh.
I just have only one small complain (and this applies to all novels by Mary Balogh I have read), there were too many repetitions/thinking/analyze of feelings, etc. I don't know if they were because Mrs Balogh wanted to be sure we'll understand or because she needed more pages or there was another reason. I simply skimmed some paragraphs instead of reading them. This way, I enjoyed the whole novel more and still, I missed nothing of the plot.
I also really appreciate e.g. how Samantha reacted when she found out Hartley's real identity - no drama, that writers like to use in such moments. Their relationship was really heartwarming. Because of this, I give it 5 stars.
I really liked the idea for the love story. And I don't believe that you can meet Hartley and not sigh.
I just have only one small complain (and this applies to all novels by Mary Balogh I have read), there were too many repetitions/thinking/analyze of feelings, etc. I don't know if they were because Mrs Balogh wanted to be sure we'll understand or because she needed more pages or there was another reason. I simply skimmed some paragraphs instead of reading them. This way, I enjoyed the whole novel more and still, I missed nothing of the plot.
I also really appreciate e.g. how Samantha reacted when she found out Hartley's real identity - no drama, that writers like to use in such moments. Their relationship was really heartwarming. Because of this, I give it 5 stars.
March 3, 2020
I had recently heard a lot of good things about this story so I just had to read it and I loved it. Loved the Hero in this one. ♥️
October 31, 2023
Intriguing, low angst, page turning book with a cinnamon roll Hero with tremendous strength of character. ALL the feels!! Thoroughly lovable story, not to be missed!
September 16, 2014
I LIKED THIS SO MUCH.
Samantha, burned by "Love", runs into a hobo I MEAN LANDSCAPE GARDENER while trespassing on the Marquess of Carew's property. They strike up an unusual friendship while they discuss possible projects for Carew's estate.
EXCEPT OH WAIT: THE LANDSCAPE GARDNER IS THE MARQUESS OF CAREW!! SHOCKER!!
1. I AM PROBABLY SO BIASED BUT OMFG I LOVED HARTLEY. DREAMBOAT. He lost some of the use of his right hand and foot after a horse-back riding accident when he was 6, and he's so strong and intelligent and soft-spoken and so full of heart. I LOVED HIM SO MUCH. He doesn't think he's worthy of Samantha and her joy and sunshine and when he thinks she's in love with him!! THAT PASSAGE GAVE ME FEELS AND CRIES ALL OVER THE PLACE. HE DOESN'T DARE TO HOPE!
2. I didn't even mind Samantha because she does come clean to him when he asks her outright to come clean, and she owns up to her own mistakes, and her reasoning (and fear) makes sense, especially because Lionel is SUCH A DICK. And so while I hated seeing Hartley put through the ringer, I also understood WHY and wanted happiness for both of these idiots.
3. This cover is a travesty.
Samantha, burned by "Love", runs into a hobo I MEAN LANDSCAPE GARDENER while trespassing on the Marquess of Carew's property. They strike up an unusual friendship while they discuss possible projects for Carew's estate.
EXCEPT OH WAIT: THE LANDSCAPE GARDNER IS THE MARQUESS OF CAREW!! SHOCKER!!
1. I AM PROBABLY SO BIASED BUT OMFG I LOVED HARTLEY. DREAMBOAT. He lost some of the use of his right hand and foot after a horse-back riding accident when he was 6, and he's so strong and intelligent and soft-spoken and so full of heart. I LOVED HIM SO MUCH. He doesn't think he's worthy of Samantha and her joy and sunshine and when he thinks she's in love with him!! THAT PASSAGE GAVE ME FEELS AND CRIES ALL OVER THE PLACE. HE DOESN'T DARE TO HOPE!
2. I didn't even mind Samantha because she does come clean to him when he asks her outright to come clean, and she owns up to her own mistakes, and her reasoning (and fear) makes sense, especially because Lionel is SUCH A DICK. And so while I hated seeing Hartley put through the ringer, I also understood WHY and wanted happiness for both of these idiots.
3. This cover is a travesty.
July 28, 2021
I am not really sure why I love Mary Balogh’s early work so much more than her newer stuff. All I know is that this is another one from Balogh I enjoyed thoroughly. I will admit I skimmed a lot, but I always do with Balogh because she enjoys densely descriptive inner dialogue. I never mind though, nor find that that skimming detracts from the rating I give her books because there is something very quietly powerful about the stories she writes. While I enjoyed Dark Angel (precedes this one), I enjoyed Samantha and Hartley’s story much more. It was refreshing to see the heroine confused and wary for once, and have the hero be self-conscious and deeply affectionate. I don’t think this dynamic is explored often enough, and rarely realistically—Balogh portrays that dynamic beautifully. If you want something a little old school but apart from the tropes contemporary to this book (you all know what I mean, the dubcon/rape themes that prevailed in the 70s/80s/90s) then this is one you might want to explore.
October 24, 2015
You know you're reading a Balogh romance when:
*The main drama involves family drama for the hero - his father doesn't love him, he has an angsty situation with a cousin who resents him, something like that.
*The married sex involves zero foreplay but is extremely copious, the husband lifts the edge of the nightgown and "works in her" two-three times a night and the wife really enjoys it and is never like "Come on, again?!?" Also, as a reader... uh, it makes me cringe quite a lot.
Probably other elements reoccur, but those are the two that are really bothering me in this book. I don't know, maybe I need a long Balogh break so these elements don't make me roll my eyes.
(ALTHOUGH COME ON, why the constant weird sex descriptions? I find them so bizarre. I go back and forth on - does Balogh not really like writing sex scenes, and so they feel very stilted and weird? OR does Balogh find this type of sex extremely sexy and compelling? Which is also unsettling to contemplate.)
Anyway, the plot here is that an extremely beautiful and tiny young lady who had her heart kinda-broken 6 years ago and is now afeared of passion and marriage meets a man she assumes is a landscape gardener and falls into friendship with him. Turns out the guy is actually a marquess and super rich - he is also somewhat physically disabled because of an accident in childhood, not particularly handsome, and socially a bit reclusive, and prone to self-doubt because of all of these things. They get married. She likes him a lot, considers him a special friend, but mostly marries him because she fears the passionate feelings she might develop for the villain. The hero's desperately in love with her - which kind of bothered me, because most of their early meetings are her being silently admiring of his landscape gardening and being beautiful and tiny. His love for her felt very shallow and not based on anything specific to her personality - and in fact I think I would have a hard time actually describing her personality. She's like a lot of Balogh heroines: serious-minded, extremely kind (but in vague ways, it's not like she runs charities or helps strangers, etc), never sarcastic or jokey, always prepared to be in a good mood or pretend to be in a good mood.
Wow, I'm sorry, apparently I'm really down on this book. You know the problem? I found the villain more interesting than the hero. All the main characters are sooooooooo good and kind and nice and worthy, I want someone to get mean and the only person doing that is the villainous cousin with backstory family and jealousy drama with the hero, so naturally I gravitate strongly toward him.
*The main drama involves family drama for the hero - his father doesn't love him, he has an angsty situation with a cousin who resents him, something like that.
*The married sex involves zero foreplay but is extremely copious, the husband lifts the edge of the nightgown and "works in her" two-three times a night and the wife really enjoys it and is never like "Come on, again?!?" Also, as a reader... uh, it makes me cringe quite a lot.
Probably other elements reoccur, but those are the two that are really bothering me in this book. I don't know, maybe I need a long Balogh break so these elements don't make me roll my eyes.
(ALTHOUGH COME ON, why the constant weird sex descriptions? I find them so bizarre. I go back and forth on - does Balogh not really like writing sex scenes, and so they feel very stilted and weird? OR does Balogh find this type of sex extremely sexy and compelling? Which is also unsettling to contemplate.)
Anyway, the plot here is that an extremely beautiful and tiny young lady who had her heart kinda-broken 6 years ago and is now afeared of passion and marriage meets a man she assumes is a landscape gardener and falls into friendship with him. Turns out the guy is actually a marquess and super rich - he is also somewhat physically disabled because of an accident in childhood, not particularly handsome, and socially a bit reclusive, and prone to self-doubt because of all of these things. They get married. She likes him a lot, considers him a special friend, but mostly marries him because she fears the passionate feelings she might develop for the villain. The hero's desperately in love with her - which kind of bothered me, because most of their early meetings are her being silently admiring of his landscape gardening and being beautiful and tiny. His love for her felt very shallow and not based on anything specific to her personality - and in fact I think I would have a hard time actually describing her personality. She's like a lot of Balogh heroines: serious-minded, extremely kind (but in vague ways, it's not like she runs charities or helps strangers, etc), never sarcastic or jokey, always prepared to be in a good mood or pretend to be in a good mood.
Wow, I'm sorry, apparently I'm really down on this book. You know the problem? I found the villain more interesting than the hero. All the main characters are sooooooooo good and kind and nice and worthy, I want someone to get mean and the only person doing that is the villainous cousin with backstory family and jealousy drama with the hero, so naturally I gravitate strongly toward him.
December 4, 2022
Aunque puede ser previsible o con sus tópicos de novela romántica, me ha gustado muchísimo por los personajes y por el concepto de amor y amistad que propone.
De los protagonistas, debo decir que Sam es maja (aunque algo ciega a lo evidente) y Hartley un santo (y da igual que no sea atractivo, que tenga estatura media o ande cojo o con una mano inútil, ¿cómo no te ibas a casar con él?).
Es mi segunda novela de Mary Balogh y es efectiva y adictiva.
Actualización Diciembre 2022: leído de nuevo, esta vez en francés, y me reafirmo en lo mucho que me gusta esta novela romántica, sobre cómo la amistad y el amor van entrelazados y es un romance más cerebral que el clásico apasionado que se lee en este género, pero no por ello, exento de sentimiento. Y además, con un final muy satisfactorio, que incluye conclusión con el villano y reafirmación de la relación entre los protagonistas. Y eso que tiene sus cosas de la época, que quizá a algunos no les vayan, pero en contexto se entienden. Me gusta mucho Harvey, por todo lo que supera, y Samantha, porque es una buena persona. Es una novela sencilla, pero que llena si conectas con los protagonistas y la combinación amor/amistad.
********************ENGLISH REVIEW ***********************
Although it can be predictable or with its romantic novel cliches, I liked it a lot for the characters and for the concept of love and friendship that it proposes.
Of the protagonists, I must say that Sam is nice (but something blind to the evident) and Hartley a saint (and it does not matter if he is not attractive, he is of average height or he is crippled or with a useless hand, how could you not marry him?).
It's my second Mary Balogh novel and it's effective and addictive.
Update December 2022: I read it again, this time in French, and I confirm how much I like this romantic novel, about how friendship and love are intertwined and it is a more cerebral romance than the passionate books from this type, although it has of course "feeling". And also, with a very satisfying ending, which includes a conclusion with the villain and a reaffirmation of the relationship between the main characters. And though it has things from the period it was written, which may not suit some, in context you can understand it. I really like Harvey, because of everything he gets over, and Samantha, because she's a good person. It is a simple novel, but one that is great if you connect with the protagonists and the love/friendship combination.
De los protagonistas, debo decir que Sam es maja (aunque algo ciega a lo evidente) y Hartley un santo (y da igual que no sea atractivo, que tenga estatura media o ande cojo o con una mano inútil, ¿cómo no te ibas a casar con él?).
Es mi segunda novela de Mary Balogh y es efectiva y adictiva.
Actualización Diciembre 2022: leído de nuevo, esta vez en francés, y me reafirmo en lo mucho que me gusta esta novela romántica, sobre cómo la amistad y el amor van entrelazados y es un romance más cerebral que el clásico apasionado que se lee en este género, pero no por ello, exento de sentimiento. Y además, con un final muy satisfactorio, que incluye conclusión con el villano y reafirmación de la relación entre los protagonistas. Y eso que tiene sus cosas de la época, que quizá a algunos no les vayan, pero en contexto se entienden. Me gusta mucho Harvey, por todo lo que supera, y Samantha, porque es una buena persona. Es una novela sencilla, pero que llena si conectas con los protagonistas y la combinación amor/amistad.
********************ENGLISH REVIEW ***********************
Although it can be predictable or with its romantic novel cliches, I liked it a lot for the characters and for the concept of love and friendship that it proposes.
Of the protagonists, I must say that Sam is nice (but something blind to the evident) and Hartley a saint (and it does not matter if he is not attractive, he is of average height or he is crippled or with a useless hand, how could you not marry him?).
It's my second Mary Balogh novel and it's effective and addictive.
Update December 2022: I read it again, this time in French, and I confirm how much I like this romantic novel, about how friendship and love are intertwined and it is a more cerebral romance than the passionate books from this type, although it has of course "feeling". And also, with a very satisfying ending, which includes a conclusion with the villain and a reaffirmation of the relationship between the main characters. And though it has things from the period it was written, which may not suit some, in context you can understand it. I really like Harvey, because of everything he gets over, and Samantha, because she's a good person. It is a simple novel, but one that is great if you connect with the protagonists and the love/friendship combination.
October 24, 2024
My favorite romance novel. I adore the hero, the heroine is lovely too and the whole story gets me all mushy with cartoon hearts in my eyes.
The story centers around the couple, there is a bad guy, but not much of a plot on that side. Reminded me of Jane Austen for some reason -who I enjoy. There is a sex scene, but mild comparatively, the rest is social interations.
As I mentioned I loved the hero. For once hes not "6feet tall, muscular, hung and smoldering hot". Hes an average looking guy with a disability. He is also mature, calm and rational and very determined. What Id call a good person. Neither he nor the heroine are prone to tempe tantrums, stupid behaviour, shouting fits. I liked their relationship a lot. They have their "missunderstanding" moment which they handle like adults. I liked the heroine too. She is a kind person, cares about the hero in sweet small ways. Shes a bit confused about her feelings and I really enjoyed reading her thoughts.
The author doesnt focus on lust but on love and friendship. The heros reaction after their first kiss is highschol crush sweet and the heroines way of offering an 'olive branch' to patch thigs up later got me all teary eyed.
Very good book :)
The story centers around the couple, there is a bad guy, but not much of a plot on that side. Reminded me of Jane Austen for some reason -who I enjoy. There is a sex scene, but mild comparatively, the rest is social interations.
As I mentioned I loved the hero. For once hes not "6feet tall, muscular, hung and smoldering hot". Hes an average looking guy with a disability. He is also mature, calm and rational and very determined. What Id call a good person. Neither he nor the heroine are prone to tempe tantrums, stupid behaviour, shouting fits. I liked their relationship a lot. They have their "missunderstanding" moment which they handle like adults. I liked the heroine too. She is a kind person, cares about the hero in sweet small ways. Shes a bit confused about her feelings and I really enjoyed reading her thoughts.
The author doesnt focus on lust but on love and friendship. The heros reaction after their first kiss is highschol crush sweet and the heroines way of offering an 'olive branch' to patch thigs up later got me all teary eyed.
Very good book :)
January 2, 2020
My first Mary Balogh read. Truth be told, I have high expectations since she, indeed, is a well-known HR author.
A brief read since it didn't even reached 300 pages. No dull moments and fortunately, no unnecessary dramas as well.
I do enjoy the plot, albeit the absence of much twists and turns. Nevertheless, I still ended up enjoying the novel.
The characters exceeds my expectations, despite how short the novel is, the characters still managed to capture my heart, especially the hero and the heroine.
The leads are perfect for each other. "Beauty and the beast," as the hero describe it.
The hero was not your typical handsome rogue for he is half crippled, insecure, not handsome but not handsome as well but alas, the heroine and I have come to love him for who he truly is.
The heroine, on the other hand, despite her alluring beauty, is not conceited. A mature, responsible lass. Comfortable in a country life.
A brief read since it didn't even reached 300 pages. No dull moments and fortunately, no unnecessary dramas as well.
I do enjoy the plot, albeit the absence of much twists and turns. Nevertheless, I still ended up enjoying the novel.
The characters exceeds my expectations, despite how short the novel is, the characters still managed to capture my heart, especially the hero and the heroine.
The leads are perfect for each other. "Beauty and the beast," as the hero describe it.
The hero was not your typical handsome rogue for he is half crippled, insecure, not handsome but not handsome as well but alas, the heroine and I have come to love him for who he truly is.
The heroine, on the other hand, despite her alluring beauty, is not conceited. A mature, responsible lass. Comfortable in a country life.
June 20, 2019
4.4 stars 😉😉
Love both the hero and heroin.
Maybe my preference is towards beta hero instead of alpha all this while?
Love both the hero and heroin.
Maybe my preference is towards beta hero instead of alpha all this while?
August 7, 2018
OH MY FREAKING HEAVENS, MARRY ME HARTLEY, you TOTAL WONDER OF A RACHEL CATNIP HERO!
Read
November 30, 2024fun, quick, nothing really happens but I am emotionally devastated Balogh read. why can she only conceive of a short hero being hot if he is secretly being trained in Eastern martial arts though?
March 3, 2011
After her cousin Jennifer's fiance, Viscount Kersey, used her in a scheme that wounded her and and her cousin's feelings quite deeply, she's decided that the volatile nature of love is emphatically not for her. Six years after her London debut, and her disastrous run-in with Kersey, Samantha Newman is quite happily unmarried. Now visiting her cousin in the country, she decides to take a long walk to put some space between herself and the happy young family. She encounters a charming landscape artist named Hartley Wade when her walk leads her onto the property of the Marquess of Carew. Instantly she's at ease with him, falling effortlessly into easy conversation and lapsing into comfortable silences. Quickly they develop a friendship, meeting secretly in the afternoon to walk the marquess' lands and chat amiably.
Hartley is a bit more than just the well-spoken, limping gardener she presumes him to be, as he's the Marquess of Carew himself. Surprised to find the stunningly beautiful woman recognizes neither his person nor his name, he plays along with her misperception. Crippled at a young age, leaving him with a twisted arm and a lame leg, he's wary of women pursuing him for his fortune alone. When Samantha seems as taken with him as he is with her, despite believing him a mere gardener, he can hardly believe his luck. Suddenly it seems he could have what he had always assumed could never be - a woman to love who loved him for who he was.
This is a love at first sight story at its heart. Immediately upon meeting Samantha, Hartley acknowledges to himself that he's in love with her. Samantha clearly does as well, though she won't use that particular word herself. Balogh does a smashing job of showing their mutual attraction through their easy conversation, peaceful silences and shared thoughts. I immediately came away with the impression that they were old dear friends meeting one another for the first time. Having a hero be enthusiastic about finding a woman to love and comfortable to admit it to himself was a wonderful change of pace.
I liked how Balogh stretched the story out on the characters insecurities without resorting to a Big Misunderstanding. Lord Kersey's reappearance upsets and confuses them both in different ways. While they both react poorly to the stresses, they do it in a way consistent with their personalities and their dynamic as a couple and grow closer as a result of it.
Definitely a cute story about the fine line between love and friendship. I'd give it a 4, I think. It's good, but it's not amazing.
Hartley is a bit more than just the well-spoken, limping gardener she presumes him to be, as he's the Marquess of Carew himself. Surprised to find the stunningly beautiful woman recognizes neither his person nor his name, he plays along with her misperception. Crippled at a young age, leaving him with a twisted arm and a lame leg, he's wary of women pursuing him for his fortune alone. When Samantha seems as taken with him as he is with her, despite believing him a mere gardener, he can hardly believe his luck. Suddenly it seems he could have what he had always assumed could never be - a woman to love who loved him for who he was.
This is a love at first sight story at its heart. Immediately upon meeting Samantha, Hartley acknowledges to himself that he's in love with her. Samantha clearly does as well, though she won't use that particular word herself. Balogh does a smashing job of showing their mutual attraction through their easy conversation, peaceful silences and shared thoughts. I immediately came away with the impression that they were old dear friends meeting one another for the first time. Having a hero be enthusiastic about finding a woman to love and comfortable to admit it to himself was a wonderful change of pace.
I liked how Balogh stretched the story out on the characters insecurities without resorting to a Big Misunderstanding. Lord Kersey's reappearance upsets and confuses them both in different ways. While they both react poorly to the stresses, they do it in a way consistent with their personalities and their dynamic as a couple and grow closer as a result of it.
Definitely a cute story about the fine line between love and friendship. I'd give it a 4, I think. It's good, but it's not amazing.
October 9, 2014
When I started this, I just kept thinking what a NICE book this was. Pleasant. Only not at lukewarm as those words might sound!
Just a really simple story, which I WANT in my love stories.
I really liked Samantha's fear of love, though I thought some aspects of it could've been dealt with better.
Just a really simple story, which I WANT in my love stories.
I really liked Samantha's fear of love, though I thought some aspects of it could've been dealt with better.
July 31, 2017
It's so rare to find a hero who is truly just average in looks and stature rather than some daunting perfect specimen, especially in historicals. And while I'm just as guilty as loving those perfect men, there's something so wonderful about someone like Hartley, Lord Carew. He's so beautiful on the inside and I fell in love with him. Sam did too, eventually, but the journey was rough because the main couple is just so naive. Hartley thought Sam was in love with him but she married him because he felt like warmth and safety and friendship. They both thought they were on the same page until it all came to a truly angsty and stressful head...which is the drama I thrive on.
Loved this one!
Loved this one!
February 20, 2015
Wow I can't recommend this one enough. I love Mary Balogh, and I feel like often when I finish one of her romances, I'm left feeling that it is my favorite of hers so far. But this time, with Lord Carew's Bride, I think it may actually be the case. For the time being, this is my favorite Balogh novel and my favorite romance novel period.
Lord Carew's Bride is everything I could ask for in a romance. It is a sweet, gentle read, with winning characters, a compelling story, and a hero and heroine I truly loved. It really puts the romance in romance novel. Mary Balogh, from her Jane Austen-reminiscent writing style, sense of the genteel time and place, and the overall sigh worthy mood, really imbues a story with wonderful romance like no other. I just feel generally contented and happy and start believing in true love all over again whenever I read one of her books.
Our heroine meets her hero one day when she's on a walk, which takes her onto the Marquess of Carew's lands. Said heroine, Samantha Newman, meets Mr. Hartley Wade on her walk. An unassuming but very pleasant gentleman, he introduces himself as a landscape gardener, working on Carew's estate, Highmoor. The two strike up a fast friendship. Samantha has resolved never to marry after a disastrous first romance when she was eighteen. Now six years later, she has never felt so comfortable with a man as she does with Hartley, as they are just friends. His lack of social standing also puts her at ease. Little does she know that Hartley is actually the Marquess of Carew and he is actually falling in love with her.
I loved Samantha (and not just because she shares my name and my nickname-Sam!) and Hartley. Samantha has a believable back-story that explains her hangups with men. Despite many romance novel heroines being supposedly beautiful, inside and out, Samantha is the true embodiment of these qualities. She never feels like a Mary Sue or like she's too perfect. She has a great sense of humor with actually funny lines, possesses strong family ties, and is a loyal friend. She makes her mistakes, but not because she's a bad person but because she is human. I especially love that Samantha is not shallow at all. She has many suitors, yet she has never liked or admired any man as much as she does Hartley, even while believing him to be a man with no title or fortune and with (gasp!) an actual job. Hartley is also not handsome-not ugly either, just not the requisite Adonis that most romance heroes are. And Hartley has a disability, though he doesn't let it define him, and Samantha doesn't let it affect the way she treats him or color how she feels about him. Hartley suffered an accident when he was young that left him with a limp and a permanently disfigured hand on his right side. It was only by exercising that side of his body and by resolutely fighting to walk that Hartley was able to walk again at all. This is a good indicator of Hartley's character, which is quite splendid. He is the king of the beta heroes. He is so gentle and kind and has such a romantic heart. He has a quiet fortitude and bravery that he carries with him always. Truly, Hartley is a beautiful cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too pure. (If anyone was ever made for that meme, it is Hartley.) Hartley is not shallow either, and he loves Samantha for more than just her beauty, for the tenderness and resilience of spirit which he sees in her. They are so compatible and see each other as they truly are more than anyone else does. It makes my heart melt. They also have great banter, and every scene between them flows with wonderful ease. Samantha and Hartley are true OTP status.
Besides the wonderful romance at this novel's heart, Balogh has even more to offer. There are the lush descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside and glittering depictions of the London Season. The supporting characters are great and so well developed. Hartley and Samantha are both blessed with great friends (some of whom have their own books which I am now eager to read). The villain is truly despicable, but in a realistic way. There are people like him who are selfish and thoughtless and go about hurting people for sport. I find villains like he to be more chilling than the ones with a diabolical plan and a maniacal laugh. He also serves the great purpose of directly antagonizing both the hero and heroine, so both their fates and plots are caught up in the havoc he creates.
This is a short novel, and though I could have gone on reading about Hartley and Samantha for ages, it really is a perfect length, as nothing is excessive and it's a fast, enjoyable read. I think I like this format of the shorter Regencies. The plot is simple as this is mostly a character driven, romance focused story, but there is never a dull moment or a wasted word. This tale has all the charm and romance of a fairy tale, but also the realism of the misunderstandings that spring up in relationships and the feel of what it would be like to live in Regency England. It also happens to contain many of my favorite romance novel tropes, like "I Loved You at Once" (a la Sleeping Beauty), friends turned to lovers, and fighting for the heroine's honor. In other words, Lord Carew's Bride is a great, old-fashioned romance, wonderfully written and containing great heart, a story that I would recommend to anyone.
Lord Carew's Bride is everything I could ask for in a romance. It is a sweet, gentle read, with winning characters, a compelling story, and a hero and heroine I truly loved. It really puts the romance in romance novel. Mary Balogh, from her Jane Austen-reminiscent writing style, sense of the genteel time and place, and the overall sigh worthy mood, really imbues a story with wonderful romance like no other. I just feel generally contented and happy and start believing in true love all over again whenever I read one of her books.
Our heroine meets her hero one day when she's on a walk, which takes her onto the Marquess of Carew's lands. Said heroine, Samantha Newman, meets Mr. Hartley Wade on her walk. An unassuming but very pleasant gentleman, he introduces himself as a landscape gardener, working on Carew's estate, Highmoor. The two strike up a fast friendship. Samantha has resolved never to marry after a disastrous first romance when she was eighteen. Now six years later, she has never felt so comfortable with a man as she does with Hartley, as they are just friends. His lack of social standing also puts her at ease. Little does she know that Hartley is actually the Marquess of Carew and he is actually falling in love with her.
I loved Samantha (and not just because she shares my name and my nickname-Sam!) and Hartley. Samantha has a believable back-story that explains her hangups with men. Despite many romance novel heroines being supposedly beautiful, inside and out, Samantha is the true embodiment of these qualities. She never feels like a Mary Sue or like she's too perfect. She has a great sense of humor with actually funny lines, possesses strong family ties, and is a loyal friend. She makes her mistakes, but not because she's a bad person but because she is human. I especially love that Samantha is not shallow at all. She has many suitors, yet she has never liked or admired any man as much as she does Hartley, even while believing him to be a man with no title or fortune and with (gasp!) an actual job. Hartley is also not handsome-not ugly either, just not the requisite Adonis that most romance heroes are. And Hartley has a disability, though he doesn't let it define him, and Samantha doesn't let it affect the way she treats him or color how she feels about him. Hartley suffered an accident when he was young that left him with a limp and a permanently disfigured hand on his right side. It was only by exercising that side of his body and by resolutely fighting to walk that Hartley was able to walk again at all. This is a good indicator of Hartley's character, which is quite splendid. He is the king of the beta heroes. He is so gentle and kind and has such a romantic heart. He has a quiet fortitude and bravery that he carries with him always. Truly, Hartley is a beautiful cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too pure. (If anyone was ever made for that meme, it is Hartley.) Hartley is not shallow either, and he loves Samantha for more than just her beauty, for the tenderness and resilience of spirit which he sees in her. They are so compatible and see each other as they truly are more than anyone else does. It makes my heart melt. They also have great banter, and every scene between them flows with wonderful ease. Samantha and Hartley are true OTP status.
Besides the wonderful romance at this novel's heart, Balogh has even more to offer. There are the lush descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside and glittering depictions of the London Season. The supporting characters are great and so well developed. Hartley and Samantha are both blessed with great friends (some of whom have their own books which I am now eager to read). The villain is truly despicable, but in a realistic way. There are people like him who are selfish and thoughtless and go about hurting people for sport. I find villains like he to be more chilling than the ones with a diabolical plan and a maniacal laugh. He also serves the great purpose of directly antagonizing both the hero and heroine, so both their fates and plots are caught up in the havoc he creates.
This is a short novel, and though I could have gone on reading about Hartley and Samantha for ages, it really is a perfect length, as nothing is excessive and it's a fast, enjoyable read. I think I like this format of the shorter Regencies. The plot is simple as this is mostly a character driven, romance focused story, but there is never a dull moment or a wasted word. This tale has all the charm and romance of a fairy tale, but also the realism of the misunderstandings that spring up in relationships and the feel of what it would be like to live in Regency England. It also happens to contain many of my favorite romance novel tropes, like "I Loved You at Once" (a la Sleeping Beauty), friends turned to lovers, and fighting for the heroine's honor. In other words, Lord Carew's Bride is a great, old-fashioned romance, wonderfully written and containing great heart, a story that I would recommend to anyone.
March 8, 2020
I loved this! ♥️♥️♥️
March 7, 2010
Great sequel/follow up to Dark Angel.
Six years have passed since Jenny and Gabriel's marriage and Samantha, who had been involved in the awful happenings that surrounded their needing to marry, has always nursed an awful guilt. She was Jenny's cousin and best friend and yet, she could have headed off some of the terrible scandal that resulted is she hadn't put her own interests first.
But now, Jenny is happy, in love and a very contented countess with her own children. But Samantha, still an incomparable even after four seasons out, is still unmarried. Despite numerous offers she can't bring herself to be happy or even trust herself to fall in love with anyone.
She meets someone who she believes is a landscape architect and for the first time in years, feels real companionship and warmth with a man. When he asks her to marry him, she accepts only to learn after the fact that he is a Marquess, Lord Carew.
But it isn't too long before Lionel makes a reappearance and turns Samantha's world upside down.
In the previous book, I wasn't very fond of Samantha. I thought she was awfully quick to chuck her friend under the bus for her own romantic interests. But I have to be fair, Balogh did make Lionel such a smooth, sincere villain that I was right there with Samantha sometimes believing that maybe he was in love with her. Silly girls!
I actually began to like Sam more in this her own book. It was obvious she was still very bitter and guilt ridden about everything that happened. Even though she was a pawn, she felt responsible -- and gullible.
I really enjoyed her friendship with Carew and loved how Balogh let their feeling for each other unfold very sweetly. Until of course Lionel shows up and once again casts doubt in both Sam and Carew.
I do admit I was a bit miffed that Lionel didn't get a more satisfactory punishment in the previous book. But huzzah! He finally gets his just desserts in this one. And in such fabulous, public fashion.
Packaging these two books together as a new release (Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride) makes a lot of sense and gives people the opportunity to read early Baloghs that used to be out of print. The two books together really do make one, nice continuous narrative and should be read together.
Six years have passed since Jenny and Gabriel's marriage and Samantha, who had been involved in the awful happenings that surrounded their needing to marry, has always nursed an awful guilt. She was Jenny's cousin and best friend and yet, she could have headed off some of the terrible scandal that resulted is she hadn't put her own interests first.
But now, Jenny is happy, in love and a very contented countess with her own children. But Samantha, still an incomparable even after four seasons out, is still unmarried. Despite numerous offers she can't bring herself to be happy or even trust herself to fall in love with anyone.
She meets someone who she believes is a landscape architect and for the first time in years, feels real companionship and warmth with a man. When he asks her to marry him, she accepts only to learn after the fact that he is a Marquess, Lord Carew.
But it isn't too long before Lionel makes a reappearance and turns Samantha's world upside down.
In the previous book, I wasn't very fond of Samantha. I thought she was awfully quick to chuck her friend under the bus for her own romantic interests. But I have to be fair, Balogh did make Lionel such a smooth, sincere villain that I was right there with Samantha sometimes believing that maybe he was in love with her. Silly girls!
I actually began to like Sam more in this her own book. It was obvious she was still very bitter and guilt ridden about everything that happened. Even though she was a pawn, she felt responsible -- and gullible.
I really enjoyed her friendship with Carew and loved how Balogh let their feeling for each other unfold very sweetly. Until of course Lionel shows up and once again casts doubt in both Sam and Carew.
I do admit I was a bit miffed that Lionel didn't get a more satisfactory punishment in the previous book. But huzzah! He finally gets his just desserts in this one. And in such fabulous, public fashion.
Packaging these two books together as a new release (Dark Angel/Lord Carew's Bride) makes a lot of sense and gives people the opportunity to read early Baloghs that used to be out of print. The two books together really do make one, nice continuous narrative and should be read together.
November 28, 2018
Very early Balogh. This is a beautiful story of love bourne of friendship. The H is crippled from an "accident" that happened when he was 6 years old. The h falls for him before she knows that who he is. They have a sweet, sincere love. There is an evil villain who almost ruins everything but our MCs make it through. The H reminisces several times about his conveniently dead mistress of 5 years, and that got annoying.
The ending was so angsty and sweet and the h and H both kicked some a$$. It was a very satisfying finish.
The ending was so angsty and sweet and the h and H both kicked some a$$. It was a very satisfying finish.
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