Simply Magic

January 8, 2007
The third in Balogh's Simply series of Regency romances, centered on a group of friends who teach at a private girls' school in Bath, is absorbing and appealing. Susanna Osbourne is one of the teachers at Miss Martin's School for Girls, a gentleman's daughter who has been alone in the world since she lost her father and her home at age 12, leaving her with depth, complexity and a cautious nature. At 23, Susanna's satisfaction with her life and career doesn't waver, even when she meets Viscount Whitleaf, Peter Edgeworth, 26, while visiting a friend's estate for the summer. Peter's good looks, charm and easy flirtation strike Susanna as frivolous, and his connection to her childhood home and early trauma frighten her. But despite Susanna being "gauche as a girl just stepping out of a schoolroom for the first time," they are drawn to each other, a friendship develops, and it looks to lead someplace both of them are afraid to go. The conflicts are mostly to do with the way Susanna and Peter resolve to accept the social realities of their time, and how in failing, they bring out the best in each other. This is an unusually subtle approach in a romance, and it works to great effect.

Starred review from February 15, 2007
Plagued with being rich, titled, and eligible, Peter Edgeworth, Viscount Whitleaf, knows he must marry and take up his family duties. Yet in an effort to avoid his mama's matchmaking, he stays a few more weeks with an old friend, where he meets Susanna Osborne, a woman who attracts him as no other. But Susanna is unimpressed by shallow flirtation, and it's going to take some sincere effort on Peter's part to win her friendshipand her love. Complex characters, compelling dialog, and a beautifully developed relationship grace Balogh's third novel focusing on the staff of Miss Martin's School for Girls. Noted for romances that stretch the boundaries, Balogh ("Simply Love") is one of the premier writers of Regency-set historicals. She lives in Canada. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 4/1/06.]

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2007
Susanna Osbourne is enjoying a perfectly lovely holiday in the countryside until she meets the wealthy nobleman Peter Edgeworth. Despite Susanna's best efforts to let Peter know she has no interest whatsoever in him, the viscount, who is visiting a friend at a neighboring estate, insists on flirting with her. Peter's persistent charm gradually melts Susanna's icy reserve, and the two end up sharing one wonderfully romantic afternoon together. But then Susanna disappears, forcing Peter to solve the mystery of her past if he is to have any chance at all of a life with her. " New" " York" " Times" best-selling Balogh continues her superb Simply romance series featuring four teachers from Miss Martin's School for Girls with another exquisitely crafted Regency historical that brilliantly blends deliciously clever writing, subtly nuanced characters, and simmering sensuality into a simply sublime romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)