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Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Giveaway and Review of A MATTER OF CLASS by Mary Balogh

"Just in time for Valentine’s Day, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh creates a classic historical tale that sizzles with romance and unforgettable drama. Mary Balogh’s A MATTER OF CLASS (January 2009) boasts a sweeping, historical romance in a compact novella format. Once you start reading this gem, you won’t stop until you’re rewarded with the beautiful ending."
The original of this review is posted at CataRomance Single Titles


Title:  A MATTER OF CLASS
Author:  Mary Balogh
Publisher:  Vanguard hardcover
Release Date: January 2010
ISBN:  978-1-59315-554-4
Price:  $15.95 U.S. / $20 CAN.
Author Website 

Rating: 5.0
Heat Rating: Sensuous

BLURB:  Reginald Mason is wealthy, refined, and, by all accounts, a gentleman. However, he is not a gentleman by birth, a factor that pains him and his father, Bernard Mason, within the Regency society that upholds station over all else. That is, until an opportunity for social advancement arises, namely, Lady Annabelle Ashton. Daughter of the Earl of Havercroft, a neighbor and enemy of the Mason family, Annabelle finds herself disgraced by a scandal, one that has left her branded as damaged goods. Besmirched by shame, the earl is only too happy to marry Annabelle off to anyone willing to have her.

Though Bernard wishes to use Annabelle to propel his family up the social ladder, his son does not wish to marry her, preferring instead to live the wild, single life he is accustomed to. With this, Bernard serves his son an ultimatum; marry Annabelle, or make do without family funds. Having no choice, Reginald consents, and enters into a hostile engagement in which the prospective bride and groom are openly antagonistic, each one resenting the other for their current state of affairs while their respective fathers revel in their suffering.

So begins an intoxicating tale rife with dark secrets, deception, and the trials of love—a story in which very little is as it seems.

REVIEW:
This novella offers an ABSOLUTELY CHARMING surprise!
I do enjoy Mary Balogh books as she writes such lovely characters and plots in historical romance.  I started this book expecting a “marriage of convenience”, if not hostility, and wondering where it would go.  Ms. Balogh did not fail to provide two families of interesting characters and a wonderful story twist!

Lady Annabelle Ashton is an Earl’s daughter who has been ruined by attempting to elope with her Father’s coachman.  The Earl is particularly upset as he expected to marry Annabelle to a wealthy mature nobleman in exchange for funds that the Earl desperately needs to recoup due to bad investments.

Reginald Mason is the only son of a wealthy businessman.  His robust father has longed to mix with The Ton and moved to an estate next door to the country home of the Earl of Havercroft in hopes of moving upward.  Unfortunately the Earl has refused to acknowledge the Masons or let his family even look at them in church!

Reginald was sent to the best schools to rub elbows with the elite of society and be prepared to marry into that society.  Reginald has spent the past year living a bit notoriously and incurring unreasonable gambling debts.  His father decides that is it time for Reginald to marry and settle down.  When Mr. Mason learns that his neighbor’s daughter is ruined he sees a perfect solution to his son’s situation and determines to buy his family an entrĂ©e into The Ton.

Reginald does not want to marry and certainly not “damaged” goods!  Lady Annabelle doesn’t want to be sold into a loveless marriage.  But does either of them have a choice?

I loved how the alternating chapters went back in time to tell a story of their own.  It took a bit of the way into the story before I got a suspicion of what was happening. When I did realize, I was ready to read the book again! By the end of the book I had fallen in love with both the hero and heroine!  This is another Balogh WINNER that you will not want to miss!

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:
One ARC copy of A MATTER OF CLASS will be awarded! 

A Big Thank You to Catareviews for the opportunity to review this and to Kim at Nancy J. Berland Publicist for sending this book and providing the giveaway of this lovely book!

1. Comment here telling me of another Mary Balogh book you have read or would like to read! (Use the author website link above to check other books!) Please include your email address, so that I can contact you if you win.
2. For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.
3. For another entry, share this giveaway on your blog, my space, facebook or Twitter and tell me where you shared it.
4. It is not necessary to enter separate comments unless you want them spaced out for numbering in the random number generator.
(Three total entries possible.)

  • This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.


  • No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

This contest will close Midnight (Central) on December 23, 2009. The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.

CymLowell

49 comments:

  1. A Precious Jewel

    gcwhiskas at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am a follower.

    gcwhiskas at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thos os the third time I've tried to win a copy of one of Mary Balogh's books. I am a big fan of hers--recently, I've read the Sisters stories--First Comes Marriage (Vanessa's story), Then Comes Seduction (Katherine's story), At Last Comes Love (Margaret's story). I'm waiting for their brother Stephen's story, Seducing an Angel. (Maybe it's out now--I need to look. Celia

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've read "First Comes Marriage".
    I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am a follower of your blog.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)coom

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just finished a reread of Under the Mistletoe. It is a wonderful collection of Christmas stories by Mary Balogh. I highly recommend it!

    castings at mindspring dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Already a follower :-)

    castings at mindspring dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have read First Comes Marriage.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh, I'm in the Christmas spirit . The Heart of Christmas looks like a fun read.

    I'm a follower too

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I'd love to read A Summer to Remember.

    yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  11. I am a follower

    yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've been waiting for this book to come out, love her books. A Summer to Remember is one of top books ever, highly recommended. Finally found an older one, The Temporary Wife, another top Balogh fave now. Just started The Precious Jewel, I've been on a Balogh backlist marathon this week.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Forgot to say - Follower.

    Happy Holidays!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'd like to read Slightly Dangerous!

    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am a follower ;-)
    creatnchris@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Up next on my TBR pile is The Heart of Christmas by Mary, Nicola Cornick, and Courtney Milan.

    creatchris@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. At Last Comes Love
    heatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I am a follower.
    heatherzilla(at)care2(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Tweet:
    http://twitter.com/heatherzilla8/status/6650469745

    ReplyDelete
  20. I like historical novels. I have not read any from this particular author.


    Happy Holidays
    gahome2mom/at/gmail/do/com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'd like to read her book A Precious Jewel.

    ellybean (at) connected2christ (dot) com
    http://www.connected2christ.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I loved Simply unforgettable and that whole series by Mary.
    jhoorm01(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am now a follower!
    jhoorm01(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I read and enjoyed Spellbound. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I follow through google friend. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  26. justpeachy36@yahoo.com

    Please enter me in the giveaway.

    To be honest I am new to Mary Balogh, but her books look really good. Especially, A Precious Jewel.

    I am a follower.

    ReplyDelete
  27. I would like to read The Heart of Christmas.

    anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I am a follower on Google Friend Connect

    anjamie4 AT gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. All posted at Win a Book for you. No need to enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Blogged:
    http://cerebralgirl.blogspot.com/2009/12/book-giveaways-in-blogworld-12-19-09.html


    nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I so love Mary Balogh's books! I've read this year, her 3 books in her Huxable Quartet ((At Last Comes Love), (First Comes Marriage), (Then Comes Seduction), which were wonderful! SEDUCING AN ANGEL is out in HC and I'm just waiting for the paperback release in April (or a library copy if I get closer on the list for it!). There will be one more book for this series so it will end up being 5 instead of 4 books. Can't wait to read this one!

    My absolute favorite of Mary Balogh's is SILENT MELODY. This book has the heroine who is deaf and also expresses herself through art. I could so relate with her! The author got it so right! I love chatting about books I read!

    cathiecaffey(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm already a follower of your blog! Love visiting and chatting books here!

    cathiecaffey(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I posted your contests on my blog on the right side and also posted it on my Facebook:

    http://caffeys-reads.blogspot.com

    http://facebook.com/caffeycathie

    cathiecaffey(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. i would love to read At Last Comes Love by Mary Balogh
    deefna at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. following your blog via gfc
    deefna at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I would like to read Slightly Dangerous

    I am a follower

    aksimmo@brainerd(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  37. I would like to read "The Heart of Christmas"


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am also a follower of this site



    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  39. I have your buttone on my blog

    http://edna-myfavoritethings.blogspot.com/



    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  40. I have not read any of her books but would love to. I am a follower. Please enter me. Merry Christmas.
    tarenn98[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I admire Mary Balogh very much and would be please to win any one of her books. I have recently read First Comes Marriage. And I would someday love to meet her at a book signing. Needless to say, I'd love to write the way she does. Who doesn't wish that?

    ReplyDelete
  42. What Balough book haven't I read...I will say my favorite is Simply Magic. I can't wait to read this book too!

    bsyb100 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I am a google follower.

    bsyb100 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I have never read any of her books but I would like to read The Heart of Christmas. Thank you for the giveaway.

    lag110@mchsi.com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I am a follower.

    lag110@mchsi.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I follow you on twitter and I tweeted: http://twitter.com/lag32583/status/6950159965

    ReplyDelete
  47. Please enter me.

    dsandyboy@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I haven't read any of her books yet. walkerd@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete
  49. I would like to read Simply Perfect or Simply Magic.

    ReplyDelete

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