Slightly Tempted (Bedwyn Saga, #4) in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 26, 2008 Juliana Philippa rated it liked it

Shelves: 0-own-in-dead-tree-form, 0-own-in-dead-tree-form-mass-market, 0-own-avg-rating-3-point-8-plus, set-in-england, romance-historical, 0-reviewed, 0-own, romance-series-book-4, romance-series, romance

Lacking the normal Balogh spark; relationship didn't leap off the page or pull me in as much as I would have liked

SUMMARY (Bedwyn Family, Book 4):
The first half of the book takes place in Brussels after Napoleon has escaped Elba and is trying to make a last stand; the second half takes place in England. Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn is thirty years old and has not set foot in England for nine years after being banished by his father after a mysterious event (don't want to spoil); all we do k ...more

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Oct 25, 2013 Nadine in NY Jones rated it liked it

Shelves: romance, era-regency, historical-romance

I just did not like this book. If you like stories of redemption and forgiveness, you may love this one. I often feel that characters forgive far too quickly, and this is no exception. After a great betrayal, nine years is long enough to begin to forgive, but a few weeks is not.

It's well written, of course, since it's Ms Balogh that is a given, but it just isn't engaging for me.

First of all, when we first meet the hero, he is a complete ASSHOLE. I know, we are meant to see him grow and change, I just did not like this book. If you like stories of redemption and forgiveness, you may love this one. I often feel that characters forgive far too quickly, and this is no exception. After a great betrayal, nine years is long enough to begin to forgive, but a few weeks is not.

It's well written, of course, since it's Ms Balogh that is a given, but it just isn't engaging for me.

First of all, when we first meet the hero, he is a complete ASSHOLE. I know, we are meant to see him grow and change, but after that first chapter, we don't get inside his head enough to really see the change. I was left feeling like he was just faking the New Good Guy attitude. I never really trusted him, and I didn't think Morgan should have either.

And there really isn't so much of a romance here. It's about two people who happen to be in Brussels during the Battle of Waterloo. But it's not a war story either.

And then there is the heroine, Morgan, who is just plain annoying. Enough already with how you are a Bedwyn and so you get to be haughty. And while I get that she's worried about Alleyn, I think she is acting like a spoiled brat when she throws a fit and insists on staying in Brussels.

And then, finally, there is the AGE DIFFERENCE. He's in his early 30s. Morgan is 18. He is nearly TWICE her age. My 46-year-old brain thinks that is uncool and not romantic.

And that reminds me of a small annoyance: the hero's name. Am I supposed to pronounce it "rose-thorn" or "rost-horn" or "rost-urn" or something else entirely? It bugged me every time I saw his name.

In the end, I was left feeling very annoyed by both characters. Morgan's plans for revenge were childish and not well-thought-out - she was setting up A LOT of innocent people to be hurt. I didn't find that appealing at all. I also felt she forgave Gervase far too easily - when she said "how can I trust you?" I was thinking "you can't." But, of course, she does.

This is really just a 2.5 star book, but without the half stars ... I rounded up to 3. ...more

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