Rating: 
Summary: Don't you just love a happy ending?
Review: I read this book through in less than a day, simply because I HAD to know how Ms. Balogh was going to reconcile this one! So many different things, so much fun.
Alleyne Bedwyn is the brother that is protagonist in this latest edition of the Bedwyn family chronicles. A diplomat, he has been entrusted to take a letter to the Duke of Wellington during the Battle of Waterloo and return with the Duke's reply. While returning to Brussels, he is shot, falls from his horse, and is knocked unconscious.
Rachel York has lost her employment as a lady's companion, and forced to take refuge with her former nurse, who is one of four "ladies" operating a brothel in Brussels. Having made a small fortune servicing the soldiers, they have given their money to Rachel's betrothed, Nigel Crawley. Nigel turns out to be a scoundrel, not the man of God he has portrayed to rachel and the "ladies" and runs off with their money. They decide to head out to the battlefield to loot the bodies of the soldiers and gain enough money to go after Nigel. It is during this nefarious mission that Rachel comes upon Alleyne, stripped naked and left for dead.
But he is alive, and Rachel's soft heart insists they bring him back to their home and nurse him back to health. But once he awakens, there is a small complication. Alleyne cannot remember anything at all about himself. He has amnesia. From there, the fun ensues.
The characters in this book are fun to get to know, especially the irrepressible ladies of the brothel. Yes, this book uses the tried and true "hooker with a heart of gold" through and through, but I think it is a good part of the story. And of course, there is that happy ending, which brought a little tear to my eye.
I think this is a fine addition to the Bedwyn family saga, and a great new book from Ms. Balogh. If you are a fan, this will be a treat. Enjoy with a cup of tea and a bon bon or two!
Rating:
Summary: Don't you just love a happy ending?
Review: I read this book through in less than a day, simply because I HAD to know how Ms. Balogh was going to reconcile this one! So many different things, so much fun.Alleyne Bedwyn is the brother that is protagonist in this latest edition of the Bedwyn family chronicles. A diplomat, he has been entrusted to take a letter to the Duke of Wellington during the Battle of Waterloo and return with the Duke's reply. While returning to Brussels, he is shot, falls from his horse, and is knocked unconscious. Rachel York has lost her employment as a lady's companion, and forced to take refuge with her former nurse, who is one of four "ladies" operating a brothel in Brussels. Having made a small fortune servicing the soldiers, they have given their money to Rachel's betrothed, Nigel Crawley. Nigel turns out to be a scoundrel, not the man of God he has portrayed to rachel and the "ladies" and runs off with their money. They decide to head out to the battlefield to loot the bodies of the soldiers and gain enough money to go after Nigel. It is during this nefarious mission that Rachel comes upon Alleyne, stripped naked and left for dead. But he is alive, and Rachel's soft heart insists they bring him back to their home and nurse him back to health. But once he awakens, there is a small complication. Alleyne cannot remember anything at all about himself. He has amnesia. From there, the fun ensues. The characters in this book are fun to get to know, especially the irrepressible ladies of the brothel. Yes, this book uses the tried and true "hooker with a heart of gold" through and through, but I think it is a good part of the story. And of course, there is that happy ending, which brought a little tear to my eye. I think this is a fine addition to the Bedwyn family saga, and a great new book from Ms. Balogh. If you are a fan, this will be a treat. Enjoy with a cup of tea and a bon bon or two!
Rating: 
Summary: More like 4 1/2 stars...
Review: I really like this series. Rachel's "friends" are fun and Alleyne's return in believable. Can't wait for Wulf...but I wish there were more brothers or sisters!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully funny, best in Bedwins so far.
Review: I thought I enjoyed Slightly Wicked, but I did not know what Mary Balogh is capable of until I read her Slightly Sinful. In this book her style comes as close as it gets to Julia Quinn and Suzanne Enoch. Because of Alleyne's (how do you pronounce his name anyway?) character it is full of witty dialogs and funny comments. It is very light compared to Slightly Scandalous and Slightly Wicked, but because of that it is an absolute joy to read. The book is full of colorful characters and I could not put it down once I started reading. As a word of caution, the narrative for the book sounds way too boring compared to the plot itself. I had reservations about reading it. In fact, I had the book for over a week before I started reading it. And the experience was worth every minute of it. My favorite part was the Chapter 23, I kept coming back to it. Enjoy it!
Rating:
Summary: the best of the Bedwyns so far
Review: I was only "Slightly Tempted" to continue on to the next novel in the series after Morgan's dull, dull story, but I'm very gald I did! Slightly Sinful is the best in the series so far, in my opinion. It pretty much summed up everything I look for in a romance novel: A hero with a sense of humor and a good dose of good looks, an endearing heroine, one of the best cast of supporting characters I've ever encountered, and a lively and original plot. Mrs. Balogh knows how to write with class. Her heroes are rarely domineering, her heroines are rarely argumentative just for its own sake, and the love scenes (towards the end) are always touching. Another thing to appreciate: Mrs. Balogh isn't afraid to let her heroes show some emotion. (Gasp! A man actually cries?! Can express himself clearly? Isn't afraid to say "I love you"? Thank goodness!). I saw that this book only recieved 4 stars in Romantic Times, and I really don't understand why. Perhaps this book isn't as emotionally compelling as some of the author's other works. Most of the depth in the story comes from Alleyne's search to discover who he really is, which serves as a great tool for developing his character and the story. So I suppose, if you're looking for something a bit heavy, try Slightly Tempted, which deals with the gravity of war (and weighs the story down until I could barely persuade myself to pick it up again). However, if you read romance novels for the pure joy of entertainment, this one won't fail.
Rating:
Summary: the best of the Bedwyns so far
Review: I was only "Slightly Tempted" to continue on to the next novel in the series after Morgan's dull, dull story, but I'm very gald I did! Slightly Sinful is the best in the series so far, in my opinion. It pretty much summed up everything I look for in a romance novel: A hero with a sense of humor and a good dose of good looks, an endearing heroine, one of the best cast of supporting characters I've ever encountered, and a lively and original plot. Mrs. Balogh knows how to write with class. Her heroes are rarely domineering, her heroines are rarely argumentative just for its own sake, and the love scenes (towards the end) are always touching. Another thing to appreciate: Mrs. Balogh isn't afraid to let her heroes show some emotion. (Gasp! A man actually cries?! Can express himself clearly? Isn't afraid to say "I love you"? Thank goodness!). I saw that this book only recieved 4 stars in Romantic Times, and I really don't understand why. Perhaps this book isn't as emotionally compelling as some of the author's other works. Most of the depth in the story comes from Alleyne's search to discover who he really is, which serves as a great tool for developing his character and the story. So I suppose, if you're looking for something a bit heavy, try Slightly Tempted, which deals with the gravity of war (and weighs the story down until I could barely persuade myself to pick it up again). However, if you read romance novels for the pure joy of entertainment, this one won't fail.
Rating:
Summary: A decent amnesia story
Review: It's rare to see an amnesia story that doesn't seem hackneyed, but this one works. I especially love the way the ending is handled (with everyone getting a happy ending). Can't wait for the duke's story to come out in paper back!
The history wasn't spot on (please figure out how the clothes work!), but the Waterloo stuff was deftly handled.
Rating: 
Summary: O Mary, Where Art Thou?
Review: Mary Balogh's been writing romance novels for almost 20 years and during that time, especially in the first decade, she produced some of the most original, angst-ridden books in the genre. Several titles from her first decade of writing, such as The Notorious Rake, Heartless, The Christmas Bride, Dancing With Clara, The Secret Pearl, and Lord Carew's Bride are gems in the Regency sub-genre. (If you doubt this statement, take at look at the prices some of these out-of-print titles command here at amazon.) No one could write a tortured hero or heroine like Balogh and her plots almost always dealt with unusual, burdened individuals struggling against both internal and external forces to find their true selves, as well as their soulmate. But the Mary Balogh who wrote thoses titles seems to have disappeared and in her place is a talented, competent romance author who creates nicely crafted but essentially souless "romance candy" reads. Slightly Sinful, the next to the last of the Bedwyn sibling novels, is in this camp (as all of the Bedwyn stories have been) and while it's not a bad romance novel it's not the challenging, exhilarating, heart-rending story Balogh once created. Actually, I liked this title better than the other four in the series. If you can get past some truly preposterous plot devices (prostitutes with not only hearts of gold but who behave like a combination of Mary Poppins and Pollyanna) and a hero who suffers from amnesia (what a concept!) you'll probably get a pleasant four hour read from this book. The heroine is likeable and the hero sufficiently interesting to keep you reading but, in the end, it's another forgetable programmer romance. And that's a shame because, once upon a time, Mary Balogh was the Queen of the Regencies with a talent that soared. I'll keep hoping she'll take us there again someday.
Rating:
Summary: Welcome once again to the fabulous Bedwyn family
Review: Mary Balough, is turning out to be my favorite author. Never is a book cookie cutter, all are original, and always wonderful. Slightly Sinful proving it once again. I'm sad that the series is soon ending, I have fallen madly in love with this family, and not ONCE disappointed with one single member. The next book, the last, I know I will have to buy a HUGE box of Kleenex. This book, Slightly Sinful (about Lord Alleyne), made me shed a few at the end. *blows her nose loudly* I can just imagine how the last will be. I will be a soggy mess. She writes so perfect, Ms Balough, with enough story to keep your glued to the pages, with enough sex that will make your heart pound, but not trashy, and emotions that make you laugh and cry. I salute you once again Mary Balough....I LOVE LOVE LOVE your books.
Rating:
Summary: Was it really that romantic?
Review: Maybe I was just in a bad mood, but I did not find Slightly Sinful to be as romantic as others in this series. First, I found Alleyne's attitude towards their first sexual encounter to be self-centered, boorish, and insensitive. How many woman -- especially in an era that valued virginity as much as the Regency Period -- want their first sexual encounter to be labeled that "ugly episode" based on lust and temptation only??? His feeling of "betrayal" for her not telling him the truth about her status, and rejecting her because of that -- ignoring the fact that she just saved his life and nursed him to health (not to mention the fact that he's incredibly dim not to have guessed) -- is very irritating. His method of "fixing their relationship" is also impractical, unromantic, and -- considering that he still doesn't know if he's married/betrothed yet -- dishonorable. Second, it's never entirely clear why/how Alleyne finally realizes that he loves Rachael -- except that he's scared to go home, and she is beautiful and acted as his Florence Nightingale. You can't help but wonder if there's enough for a long-lasting relationship. That said, the subplots with Rachael's uncle and friends are entertaining and heartwarming, if predictable. The "bad man" subplot is resolved too easily and painlessly -- not more than a vehicle to throw Alleyne and Rachael together. If you read the previous book in this series, however, it is fun to find out what happened to Alleyne and to see more emotion in the Duke of Bewcastle. I'm still looking forward to Slightly Dangerous -- hardcover release for June. I think that that still has the potential to be very intriguing.
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