Rating: 
Summary: A Joy to Read
Review: After a slow start, the intensity of this fine novel builds. Miss Balogh has taken the Pride and Prejudice plot with widow Christine Derrick somewhat like Elizabeth Bennett and the Duke of Bewcastle expanding on Mr. Darcy's character. It is in Balogh's crafting of the duke that she dazzles. Ever consistent, the duke is portrayed as icy and isolated while at the same time obsessed over Mrs. Derrick. The plot builds to a crescendo that will have readers bubbling with warm fuzzies. Another fabulous read from one of the genre's best.
Rating:
Summary: The thawing of an iceberg
Review: At the end of Mary Balogh's Summer to Remember, a very haughty family rode up on horseback. They had ancient British names ( Freja, Alleyne, Rannulf) and I suspected that the author may introduce these folks in later books.
Well, they got a whole series to themselves! The "Slightly" series concludes with eldest brother Wulfric's story in Slightly Dangerous. Other reviewers have seemed disappointed with lack of passion and a buoyant "silly" heroine but I disagree. This was a perfect ending to an excellent set of stories about the filthy rich, arrogant Bedwyn family. At age 17, Wulfric Bedwyn took on the responsibility of raising 3 younger brothers and 2 sisters when his father died. He was a very strict taskmaster who rarely showed emotion and never smiled. His icy manner terrified most of London's 'ton' and even his own family tread very carefully when close to him. Balogh introduced a totally opposite female personality to soften the hard-edged Wulfric. Widowed Christine Derrick was a sunny, childlike, loving woman whose overly exuberant ways had often been mistaken for immaturity and flirtatiousness. She is what we hope to be on our good days: always smiling, laughing and UP! Christine and Wulfric immediately acknowledged and acted upon their physical attraction but it took most of the book for them to discover that they "suited." Balogh writes some classic lines in this book. When Wulfric realized he loved Christine, he thought:"...he was in love, damn it all. He disliked her, he resented her, he disapproved...yet he was head over heels in love with her...He was not amused." Christine was equally annoyed:"...She was horribly in love with him. Horribly, she supposed, being the operative word. Ignominiously might be even better." Slowly Wulfric and Christine revealed parts of their lives to each other; they began to to trust each other and finally realized no one else would do but the other.
All the Bedwyns reappeared including many offspring ( whose names I soon lost track of, but it didn't matter). It was great seeing and hearing all of them again. So I highly recommend the finale to the "Slightly" series - Wulfric finds someone to melt his icy heart and accept him for what he is. Warm, loving Christine Derrick makes him smile and laugh for the first time in 20 years.
Rating: 
Summary: Unappealing!
Review: Dear readers, if Mary Balogh was trying to make readers feel that Wulfric was A cold and unappealing man, she certainly succeded! No one liked this poor fellow. Other women weren't even attracted to him! All I felt for this poor hero was pity! The beginning of the book was pretty good. I loved the sexual tension between Wulfic and Christine, and it seemed that Wulfric was going to be A hard hero to get. I like it when the hero does not fall in love and chase the heroine right away. In this book the heroine was the one who was hard to get. Wulfric had to chase Christine so much that it got frustrating. Maybe I could have gotten past that, if Christine was A likable character, but she was so mean and nasty to Wulfric that I found myself dislikeing her. She humiliated him every chance she got. At one point she just came straight out and told him why she would not marry him , "I would be consumed by you, you would sap all the energy and all the joy from me. You would put out all the fire of my vitality." To say the least Christine was a bit harsh! I also did not see what all the fuss was about, when Wulfric asked Christine to be his mistress in the begining. Give me A break! For once I would like to read about A heroine who doesn't think it so horrible to be A man's mistress! Mary Balough does have A book about A heroine like that, [More Than A Mistress], but to my disapointment the hero in that book was not even handsome, and I could not finish the book after that bit of information! Don't get me wrong I think Mary Balough is a good writer. I just think some of her characters in her books are unappealing.
Rating:
Summary: A Superb ending to a very lovely series
Review: I also couldn't wait to see how Ms. Balogh was going to 'defrost' some of Wulfric's ice and show us the real man behind the frosty duke. I was not disappointed in the least! As I was reading, I couldn't help but feel so sad for Wulf because he was so lonely. He always set himself apart from everyone else. He felt always on the outside looking in. Christine was perfect for Wulfric. Complete opposites. I enjoyed watching them interact together and laughed along with her antics, especially the times when Wulf had to save her from disgrace. He was so out of his element, I got such a kick out of watching his reactions to her predicaments. I got misty-eyed when, finally, the haughty and icey Duke of Bewcastle let out a laugh and actually smiled! This was pure, unadulterated romance at it's best! Brava, Ms. Balogh, for a truly wonderful story and for giving us a glimpse into a loveable and entertaing family, the Bedwyns. I loved it!
Rating: 
Summary: slightly not as good as her other books
Review: I enjoy reading Ms.Balogh's books and was quite excited to see the last Bedwyn shot by cupid's arrow. This book had some good parts like the almost instant energy between Christine and Wulfric. Christine is a widow and has been for a while when the story starts. Wulfric's long time mistress had recently died leaving him alone and uncertain as what to do next with himself. For the most part the book had no suprises to it and I always knew what was going to happen before it did. You meet Justin who is a family member of Christine's late husband and while his character ends up playing a huge role in the plot I saw it coming for a long time. I felt like this book was rushed and did not live up to what I have come to expect from a novel by Ms. Balogh. I had a hard time with Wulfric being this man who is cold and duty bound that suddenly just changes. Christine is a headstrong woman that embarrasses herself in public on a regular basis and refuses a duke's marriage offer;yet he still wants her even though she goes against everything he believes, it was not the strongest plot for a book. I did enjoy parts of this book and just had to read Wulfric story no matter what I did and did not like about it.
Rating:
Summary: Wendy from VA Bch
Review: I have been reading books ever since I was a child over 40 years. Slightly Dangerous was outstanding. This is the first book I have read by Balogh. I did not know any of the characters from previous books. I felt she did an outstanding job describing the characters and the scenes. I loved reading the verbal exchanges between the main characters. Her book was a nice fresh break, so much description, I felt very much like I was there. This book was very hard to put down. It is a great lesson in Love, read this book and feel good afterwards.!
Rating: 
Summary: I'm not sure what to say......
Review: I have not been a huge fan of this series as a whole. I liked Slightly Sinful and Wicked but the others did nothing for me. However, I've been on pins and needles to read this one because Bewcastle has been such an intriguing character. On one hand, I admire this book because Mary Balogh did not do the expected thing and completely change the character into a love sick sap once he met Christine, on the other hand this book could have used more romantic substance (dialogue, love scenes) between the two characters. I agree with the other reviewer, it was WAY too short. I did however, really like Christine in this book. I thought she was a good match for Bewcastle. I'm giving it four stars because it's impossible for this book to bad since it's about Bewcastle but I think his story deserved more.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect ending to the series
Review: I have read many series romances, and am very critical of the last book in them because I fear the author will slack off just to tie up loose ends. And in some series, that has happened. But not in the Slightlys - Wulfric's story is my favorite of the bunch! I read the review where the readers didn't care for Christine, but I liked her very much. I liked that she was older, I liked that she was always herself no matter what, and I liked that she didn't give a hoot to marrying a title. I LOVED that she was brave enough to refuse Wulfric even though it broke her heart, because she knew he wasn't what she needed for the long haul. He needed someone to finally tell him that he had to stop acting like he thought others expected him to, and Christine was perfect for that. And, hello people, the first sex scene was short and rather cold to make a point - that's all that Wulf was capable of then. The eventual LOVE scene is that much more special, because it reflected his changed outlook. It's called contrast - did no one pay attention in high school lit. class? And romance novels so rarely make me cry, but the Epilogue to this one did. I won't give anything away, but it is so very touching. I'm glad Balogh is done with the Slightly series, because I don't think she could top this one. It's a keeper for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Do not start this book at bedtime...
Review: I literally stayed up all night to finish it. Take several handfuls of Bedwyns (all appear with their families), add a cup of Pride & Prejudice, a dash of Notting Hill, and liberally lace the whole thing with vivacity & humor (thanks to the heroine) = the result is a nearly perfect romance and a fitting conclusion to the Bedwyn series. This book is a welcome return to the splendor of A Summer to Remember, but with more humor than pathos. Wulfric was worth the wait. No, this story has little intrigue and few sex scenes--it doesn't need them. Slightly Dangerous is a rollicking good time and warm, wonderful romance. Wulfric really somes into his own here as we see the man behind the Duke. Christine is vivacious, and even her thoughts are delightfully chuckle-worthy. She will make an unconventional duchess, but Wulf needs someone who'll bring out the boy he used to be, the lonely man behind the cold face of the Duke of Bewcastle. Watching Wulfric mentally roll his eyes at Christine's antics while perversely (and unwillingly) being attracted to her is outrageously fun. Seeing her melt the ice around his heart makes the reader agree with Freyja: "If this is what you have done for him...I will love you all my life." Indeed, there are few truly interesting secondary characters at the house party, but the focus does remain solidly on the romantic leads. Once the action moves to Bewcastle's estate, the Bedwyns provide plenty of delicious filler. And, in the bargain, we get to catch up on all their families. (...)Slightly Dangerous is a classic romance. If that's your cup of tea, you'll be thrilled with the final entry in the Bedwyn series. How I'll miss them, but I feel honored, especially after this book, to have shared their lives.
Rating:
Summary: Slightly Disappointed Also
Review: I was so anxious to read Wulfric's story - author Balogh has been leading up to it in all her "Slightly" books, and I am sorry to say that it disappointed me.
I couldn't warm up to Christine at all. She was too childish for Wulfric. Granted, he needed someone to help warm up his rather chilly personality but she was simply too much. She would swear that she hated him one minute and be laughing with him the next. She just plain irritated me. I think the author could have given the Duke a better partner than Mrs. Derrick. I loved all the couples in the previous books. I tried to like Christine and couldn't manage it. I gave this book 3 stars because of the Bedwyn's alone. It was good to be able to catch up with them all again and see how their families had grown. If you like the Bedwyns, this book is worth a read. Just don't expect much from the heroine.
|
