Someone to Care

March 1, 2018
A second chance at love catches a jaded aristocrat and a disgraced gentlewoman off guard. Their adult children alternately worry and then root for the wary pair.Love blossoms for an unlikely couple who were unlucky in their first marriages and never thought to find romance in their 40s. In this latest in her Westcott series, Balogh (Someone to Wed, 2017, etc.) again breaks with the historical romance tradition of narrating the courtships of only youthful members of a family--Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series is a popular example of that tradition. Instead, we witness the journey of Viola Kingsley, a widowed former countess who's been stripped of her title, to a joyful union with the Marquess of Dorchester, Marcel Lamarr. Heartsick over revelations of her dead husband's bigamy, Viola is fleeing from her concerned family when she crosses paths with Marcel, a rake who once almost tempted her into infidelity. When he renews his offer for a no-strings dalliance at a remote cottage--he's escaping his own past and its repercussions--Viola throws caution to the wind. Despite their sexual compatibility and a nagging awareness that their relationship is more than lust, they're both too scarred to voice their feelings. Once their families intrude on their idyll, they must determine whether they want the tie that binds them to break or turn into matrimony. Balogh lingers a little too long on internal debates, and the novel is at least a third longer than it needs to be, even turning into a Christmas story by the end. But if a taut plot is not her strength, the careful explorations of human sentiment and values make her a standout in the genre.What alchemy of sexual desire, emotional connection, temperamental similarity, and personal courage does it take for two people to actively love each other? Recommended for readers who like their Regency romance with more contemplation than fireworks.

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March 12, 2018
Balogh (Someone to Wed) continues the Westcott family’s recovery from the reversal of fortune first unveiled in Someone to Love. Lust, loneliness, and love are not merely for the young, as the former Countess of Riverdale, Viola Kingsley, learns when she escapes from her family only to meet up with the rakish Marquess of Dorchester, Marcel Lamarr. These two once fancied each other in the early days of Viola’s marriage to Riverdale. But now, 14 years later, after her husband’s death and the subsequent discovery that their marriage was invalid due to his secret other wife, Viola takes an unexpected opportunity to engage in a short-term love affair with Marcel. By indulging in his liaison with Viola, Marcel happily delays returning home to his now-grown twins, who are mostly strangers to him, having been raised by relatives. The lovers’ avoidance of responsibility not only bewilders their families but strains their unexpected deepening feelings for one another. Home, they discover, can’t so easily be shut away. Balogh gives the 40-something lovers refreshing complexity, not sugarcoating their character flaws, and these nods to reality will make Viola and Marcel all the more endearing to readers. Newcomers will find this a satisfying entry point to the series, and fans will be delighted to see Viola achieve happiness at last. Agent: Maria Carvainis, Maria Carvainis Agency.

April 15, 2018

Fourteen years ago, Viola and Marcel fell deeply in love, but Viola was married (or so she thought), a young mother of three, and not about to have an affair--so she sent him away. Years later, thanks to a broken carriage axel, they meet by chance at a small country inn. Now both free and in vastly changed circumstances, they give in to their feelings and "run away" together--if only temporarily. But then children and assorted family members track them down, and suddenly their plans take an entirely different course. Personal, social, and familial expectations; trust and communication; and responsibility are but a few of the complex issues at the heart of this family-rich romance that features exquisite character development, tender sensuality, and a truly rewarding love story. VERDICT Two inwardly lonely people regain the love they thought they'd lost in a story that is searing in its insight, as comforting as a hug, and a brilliant addition to this series. Another gem from a master of the art. Balogh (Someone To Wed) lives in Canada.

Copyright 2018 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from April 15, 2018
Fourteen years ago, Marcel Lamarr, the Marquess of Dorchester, tried to add Viola Westcott, the Countess of Riverdale, to his string of romantic conquests, but Viola turned him down flat. Now, who should Marcel spy while he is stuck in a rustic country inn but the one woman who got away. Two years ago, the former Viola Westcott, now Viola Kingsley, lost everything when it was discovered her late husband was already married when he wed her. Just as she is slowly putting the pieces of her life back together, she encounters the notorious rake who tried to seduce her. After dedicating her life to being the model of propriety, Viola now thinks it might be time to take a walk on the wild side with a man who is no stranger to defying convention. The refreshingly older hero and heroine in the latest addition to Balogh's superb Westcott series is just one of this romance's many delights. Put this together with Balogh's signature wit, flair for dialogue, and lush sensuality, and this a love story nearly perfect in every way.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)