Slightly Tempted

Rating:
Summary: an enjoyable read, although a tad predictable
Review: "Slightly Tempted" is the fourth book in the Mary Balogh's Bedwyn series, and with two more books to go, the question is: is "Slightly Tempted" a worthwhile buy? Well, that depends: story and plot-wise, it's nothing startlingly new under the sun as the novel's central motif is that of the much used revenge-plot; on the other hand Mary Balogh has done a rather good job of depicting her heroine (Morgan Bedwyn) and the attraction that simmers between Morgan and the hero, Gervase Ashford, the Earl of Rosthorn. So, if you're looking for a book that's much more memorable and doesn't hinge completely on the interaction between the hero and heroine, than this may not be the book for you. But if you're looking for a swiftly paced 3-star read and you are a fan of the series, than "Slightly Tempted" certainly will do.

For the past nine years, Gervase Ashford, the Earl of Rosthorn, has lived in exile on the Continent because a rather nasty scandal. And the one person he's constantly blamed for his humiliating situation is the Duke of Bewcastle. Thirsting for revenge for the wrongs done to him, it finally looks as if things are beginning to look his way when he spies the duke's beautiful and willful younger sister, Morgan, in Brussels. Thinking of using Morgan in order to create a scandal that would shame and embarrass the duke, Gervase begins a determined pursuit of Morgan. But Morgan, he realizes, is more than just the duke's younger sister. She's also a beautiful, wise and intelligent young lady, and one that he's beginning to like immensely. What should Gervase do? Carry on with his plans for revenge or give up his plans completely?

While the story was a familiar and much used one, I did find myself totally engrossed with what was going on for the first half of the book at least. Mary Balogh did a truly good job of portraying both Morgan and Gervase and making them both seem real and likable. Even the attraction between the two passed muster. Unfortunately, once the scene of action moved from Belgium to England, the book became a bit of a bland read. Things became just a tad too predictable -- you could practically tell that something would happen to force Morgan and Gervase to become engaged and that they would be at daggers drawn until they have the TALK that they perhaps should have had somewherein the middle of the book before things got so predictably out of hand. The other thing that irritated was the manner in which the Bedwyn siblings treated their brother, the duke. After three books in which Aidan, Rannulf and Freya have all come to understand and appreciate their brother a little better, you'd think that this would have translated into a better understanding of their brother and a trust that if he dislikes someone then there must be a really good reason why this is so. (Also, Gervase's habit of always addressing Morgan as 'cherie' got really irritating after a while.) But these were really just minor irritations, and the truth is if you enjoyed the previous Bedwyn novels, you're bound to enjoy "Slightly Tempted." However if you're looking for something different from the usual fare and that is truly a riveting read, then "Slightly Tempted" may not be the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: an enjoyable read, although a tad predictable
Review: "Slightly Tempted" is the fourth book in the Mary Balogh's Bedwyn series, and with two more books to go, the question is: is "Slightly Tempted" a worthwhile buy? Well, that depends: story and plot-wise, it's nothing startlingly new under the sun as the novel's central motif is that of the much used revenge-plot; on the other hand Mary Balogh has done a rather good job of depicting her heroine (Morgan Bedwyn) and the attraction that simmers between Morgan and the hero, Gervase Ashford, the Earl of Rosthorn. So, if you're looking for a book that's much more memorable and doesn't hinge completely on the interaction between the hero and heroine, than this may not be the book for you. But if you're looking for a swiftly paced 3-star read and you are a fan of the series, than "Slightly Tempted" certainly will do.

For the past nine years, Gervase Ashford, the Earl of Rosthorn, has lived in exile on the Continent because a rather nasty scandal. And the one person he's constantly blamed for his humiliating situation is the Duke of Bewcastle. Thirsting for revenge for the wrongs done to him, it finally looks as if things are beginning to look his way when he spies the duke's beautiful and willful younger sister, Morgan, in Brussels. Thinking of using Morgan in order to create a scandal that would shame and embarrass the duke, Gervase begins a determined pursuit of Morgan. But Morgan, he realizes, is more than just the duke's younger sister. She's also a beautiful, wise and intelligent young lady, and one that he's beginning to like immensely. What should Gervase do? Carry on with his plans for revenge or give up his plans completely?

While the story was a familiar and much used one, I did find myself totally engrossed with what was going on for the first half of the book at least. Mary Balogh did a truly good job of portraying both Morgan and Gervase and making them both seem real and likable. Even the attraction between the two passed muster. Unfortunately, once the scene of action moved from Belgium to England, the book became a bit of a bland read. Things became just a tad too predictable -- you could practically tell that something would happen to force Morgan and Gervase to become engaged and that they would be at daggers drawn until they have the TALK that they perhaps should have had somewherein the middle of the book before things got so predictably out of hand. The other thing that irritated was the manner in which the Bedwyn siblings treated their brother, the duke. After three books in which Aidan, Rannulf and Freya have all come to understand and appreciate their brother a little better, you'd think that this would have translated into a better understanding of their brother and a trust that if he dislikes someone then there must be a really good reason why this is so. (Also, Gervase's habit of always addressing Morgan as 'cherie' got really irritating after a while.) But these were really just minor irritations, and the truth is if you enjoyed the previous Bedwyn novels, you're bound to enjoy "Slightly Tempted." However if you're looking for something different from the usual fare and that is truly a riveting read, then "Slightly Tempted" may not be the book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely boring...
Review: Completely boring and not worth your time...I could barely finish it.

Rating:
Summary: Another great book of the Bedwyn series!
Review: Don't miss this one - touching love story during the war.
Young Morgan's story is a special one!

Rating:
Summary: Familiar territory but still enjoyable and well written
Review: How many times can Mary Balogh use the sham marriage/engagement theme and still get away with it? I guess as many as she wants as long as her story telling and character development is so brilliant. The basic plots of all but one of the Bedwyn stories so far - A SUMMER TO REMEMBER, SLIGHTLY MARRIED, SLIGHTLY SCANDALOUS and now SLIGHTLY TEMPTED are all variations on the same theme. Only SLIGHTLY WICKED, ironically my least favourite of the series so far, strays from this plotline. And the first half of this book (which deals more with war, friendship, disillusionment and loss) is the best part and saves it from being just mediocre.

Youngest Bedwyn Morgan, a beautiful, intelligent and mature eighteen, has suffered through her come-out and is in the midst of her first Season. She finds it all a crashing bore until she is invited to accompany the family of one of her suitors to Belgium on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo. She is keen to experience the excitement of witnessing such an historic event but is disappointed to find life in Brussels much the same as in London. Balls, assemblies, picnics, and officers who tell the young ladies not to "worry their pretty little heads" about the coming conflict. Such condescension infuriates Morgan, a woman with an intellect and curiosity beyond most young ladies of the ton. And so, it made sense for Ms Balogh to pair her with a more mature man just a few years younger than her oldest brother (and parental figure) Wulfric.

Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn, has been in exile on the Continent after a scandal involving Gervase, Wulfric Bedwyn, Duke of Bewcastle, a young lady and a stolen jewel. Unfortunately, Gervase was determined to be the guilty party in the mess and his beloved father kicked him out of his loved family home. He has aimlessly drifted these last nine years until he ascended to the title on his father's death just last year. His bitterness over his unfair exile resurfaces full force when Morgan Bedwyn is pointed out to him across a Brussels ballroom. He sees an opportunity to revenge himself on Wulf through his baby sister and obtains an introduction to her. He proceeds to woo her and in the course of things begins to expose her to gossip and scandal he hopes will make its way to London - and Wulf's ears. But when the Battle begins and the ugliness of war is brought home all seduction comes to an end especially when Morgan's brother Alleyne, on his first assignment for the Diplomatic Service, comes up missing. When her host family plans to leave for London, Morgan refuses to go without definitive word about Alleyne. And so she stays on without chaperon or maid with only the support of the Earl of Rosthorn who offers to find out what he can about Alleyne's fate. During those weeks in Brussels, Gervase and Morgan become friends, sharing worries, hopes, dreams and enjoying each other's company. But they are also careless, seen walking alone together, hand in hand and even in one case embracing. All of which eventually finds it's way to the London gossip mill. And when word comes that Alleyne is presumed dead, Morgan can only reach out to her best friend, Gervase for comfort - and more!

They return to London, to scandal and to Wulf's stern disapproval. Though marriage is the one thing that will put the scandal to rest, Wulf refuses Gervase and then, upon learning of his deceptions in Brussels, so does Morgan. Until she decides to get back at him by accepting his offer for as long as she chooses with the intent of making him fall in love with her only to leave him heartbroken. This is where the sham engagement déjà vu kicks in and when the story starts to lose some of its sparkle. It begins to sound oh so familiar and predictable and you can guess how it ends. Though Morgan is well developed and likeable, I felt that the reader never fully knew Gervase or the depths of his feelings about Morgan and about returning to his family after being away so long and missing so much.

Though the second half of the book was not to the level of the first, I still recommend it for Bedwyn junkies and Balogh fans. Even with a well-worn theme, Ms Balogh still pens and enjoyable tale.

Rating:
Summary: Her worst to date
Review: I have every one of Mary Balogh's books in my Keeper Box--except this one. There is such a lack of logic to the plot (at the risk of tossing in a spoiler...what happened to Morgan's grief and Regency mourning conventions???) that it went in the Goodwill box.

Now I see that she is giving Wulfric one of her silly heroines...Balogh does light-heartedness poorly, and I wince at the thought of 250 pages of leaden whimsy. Let us pray that she hasn't sunk to the level of, say, "The Famous Heroine."

Rating:
Summary: Her worst to date
Review: I have every one of Mary Balogh's books in my Keeper Box--except this one. There is such a lack of logic to the plot (at the risk of tossing in a spoiler...what happened to Morgan's grief and Regency mourning conventions???) that it went in the Goodwill box.

Now I see that she is giving Wulfric one of her silly heroines...Balogh does light-heartedness poorly, and I wince at the thought of 250 pages of leaden whimsy. Let us pray that she hasn't sunk to the level of, say, "The Famous Heroine."

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the other TEMPTED series, at all
Review: I have read 100 pages and am taking it back to the store! It was painful to even read this far! You meet the guy, supposedly a wastrel, banished from England, who has wasted 1/3 of his life! Then Morgan, well, we know she is terrific already. All of the sudden, after we know that Gervase (the guy) wants to use Morgan as revenge against her family- goes totally out of character and jumps in to help the British army. Morgan, who is stuck in Brussels, displays heroic attributes in nursing the wounded...and sees Gervase, also helping. Oh, now all of the sudden they are thinking noble thoughts about each other. What happened to the revenge need and the wastrel aspect of this guy? Too unbelievable. READ the previous four books that Balogh wrote. You'll be much happier and save your money on this one. Let's wait for Wulf's story; hopefully it will be better!

Rating:
Summary: Don't juge the series by this one
Review: I have really enjoyed the other novels in the Slightly series, but this one was dull. I liked Morgan well enough, but found little to like in Gervase. Maybe it was the "cherie"s ad nauseum, but I kept hearing his voice in my head with a heavy French accent and rather feminine, so he never became a romantic hero to me. Oh, well, the other Slightly books make up for this one and I highly recommend them all.

Rating:
Summary: Slightly harsh perhaps, but a disappointing book
Review: I have so enjoyed the Bedwyn series, but Morgan's story was a disappointment. Morgan's sensitive soul fails to touch the reader because of Balogh's preachiness. The war took up most of the story line and Morgan's face-to-face encounter with the horrors of war came across as a series of sermons rather than windows into her heart and the anguish she surely feels. Only her concern for brother Alleyne and her sense of betrayal by Gervase touche the reader's heart.

As for Gervase, even after he supposedly loves Morgan, he uses her to get revenge upon Wulfric. Despite occasionaly feeling sorry for him because of the unfairness of his earlier life, his treatment of Morgan after they had become friends was not well done; it seemed like a cheap plot device.

I did, however -- as is the case with the best of Mary Balogh's books -- share the Bedwyn's grief enough to cry with Aidan and Wulf (yes, Wulf).

I wanted to like this book, but for Balogh, 2 stars is all it's worth. From anyone else, it might be worth 3. This time, though, the disappointment was too great for me.

The best thing about this book is the burning desire it creates to read Wulf's story. I'll be chomping at the bit until June. If it's a disappointment, I'll have to wait a long time to read this author again; I've been waiting for his story too long. Until then, Alleyne's story appears in May; and the anticipation of that is another good thing about "Slightly Tempted" -- both of the final books in the series have excerpts at the end.