#NetGalley Book Review: Someone to Trust by Mary Balogh

This is an interesting historical where the female character is older than the male.

Someone to Trust (A Westcott Novel Book 5)
by Mary Balogh

File Size: 2448 KB
Print Length: 377 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0399586105
Publisher: Berkley (November 27, 2018)
ASIN: B07B78CVNY
Genre: Historical Romance, Holiday, Regency
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

During a rare white Christmas at Brambledean Court, the widow Elizabeth, Lady Overfield, defies convention by falling in love with a younger man in the latest novel in the Westcott series.
After her husband's passing, Elizabeth Overfield decides that she must enter into another suitable marriage. That, however, is the last thing on her mind when she meets Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, at the Westcott Christmas house party. She simply enjoys his company as they listen to carolers on Christmas Eve, walk home from church together on Christmas morning, and engage in a spirited snowball fight in the afternoon. Both are surprised when their sled topples them into a snowbank and they end up sharing an unexpected kiss. They know there is no question of any relationship between them, for she is nine years older than he.
They return to London the following Season, both committed to finding other, more suitable matches. Still they agree to share one waltz at each ball they attend. This innocuous agreement proves to be one that will topple their worlds, as each dance steadily ensnares them in a romance that forces the two to question what they are willing to sacrifice for love. . . .

Review:
Elizabeth, Lady Overfield, is an elegant widow who is surrounded by loving family for a warm, Westcott Christmas. As the family gathers to celebrate with a Christmas wedding, Elizabeth, in her mid 30s, begins to think that maybe she should remarry and have children before it is too late. Her first marriage was for love but didn’t turn out well. This time she is inclined to move forward with a suitable, reliable husband whom she can trust.

Colin Handrich, Lord Hodges, has joined the Christmas festivities to be with his recently found sister, Wren, who has married into the Westcott family. Colin and Wren were separated when young and he doesn't remember having a warm family Christmas after that. Now that he sees what loving family looks like he decides that perhaps he is ready, at age 26, to start looking for a bride to start a home and family of his own.

Colin admires Lady Overfield as a serene, confident example of womanhood. They begin to build a friendship as they discuss the potentials of the young ladies at the house party. Colin challenges Elizabeth to join in the outside activities, including snowball fights and sledding. A tumble from their sled leads to a surprise kiss. They are both embarrassed, but their thoughts wander even though they think that a relationship is not likely. After they share a magical waltz during the Christmas ball, they agree to share a waltz at the balls when they are back in London for the ton season.

Spring finds them in London keeping their promise to share a waltz. Colin has made it apparent that he is bride looking so there are plenty of matrons introducing their young debutantes. Meanwhile Elizabeth is being courted by a suitor she left waiting the previous year. Although there is no spark with the man, Elizabeth is inclined to think he is stable and suitable.

Trouble steps forward in the form of Colin’s mother who wants to perpetually be viewed as a young beauty. She will only allow other young beauties around her, so she has picked out the most beautiful of the debutantes to be Colin’s wife. Lady Hodges will do whatever it takes to squelch the rumors that Colin and Elizabeth may have a developing relationship.

I quickly was pulled in by the primary characters, Elizabeth and Colin, and their teasing friendship. Ms. Balogh does a good job developing their vulnerabilities as well as their strengths. Although Elizabeth is an older woman, she is not a cougar character. I enjoyed Balogh's usual sweet romance building, but the story seemed to be drawn out unnecessarily. I think the story could have been shortened and the tension between the couple might have been stronger. I am glad the potential scandal later in the story and the conflicts with Colin’s mother pulled the interest back. I do recommend Mary Balogh’s work as she is one of my favorite Historical Romance authors.

Source: 2018 NetGalley; NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Someone to Hold (A Westcott Novel) by Mary Balogh

Ms Balogh succeeds once again with strong, natural characters in a different situation.
Someone to Hold (A Westcott Novel)
by Mary Balogh

File Size: 1774 KB
Print Length: 396 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0451477804
Publisher: Berkley (February 7, 2017)
ASIN: B01H17U9E6
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

A reversal of fortune befalls a young woman in the latest Westcott novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Only a Kiss and Someone to Love.
Humphrey Wescott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune and a scandalous secret that will forever alter the lives of his family—sending one daughter on a journey of self-discovery...
With her parents’ marriage declared bigamous, Camille Westcott is now illegitimate and without a title. Looking to eschew the trappings of her old life, she leaves London to teach at the Bath orphanage where her newly discovered half-sister lived. But even as she settles in, she must sit for a portrait commissioned by her grandmother and endure an artist who riles her every nerve.
An art teacher at the orphanage that was once his home, Joel Cunningham has been hired to paint the portrait of the haughty new teacher. But as Camille poses for Joel, their mutual contempt soon turns to desire. And it is only the bond between them that will allow them to weather the rough storm that lies ahead...

Review:
Lady Camille is a young woman who was raised as an earl’s daughter; a young lady preparing to do her duty in life. She was not concerned about controlling her life nor seeking happiness. She was only concerned with being a perfect lady, to always do what was expected of her position; to marry a man suitable to her station and to fulfill her duties as the lady of the house. Her life is turned upside down when her father dies leaving his wealth to a daughter born before he married Camille’s mother. It would be one thing if that woman was illegitimate but instead it is discovered that the earl was previously married and the marriage to her mother was bigamous, making Camille, her brother, Harry, and sister, Abigail, the illegitimate children.

Their elder half-sister, Anna, offers to share the fortune she has inherited but Camille and her full siblings refuse. The money will not change their fallen place in society, nor the fact that Camille’s fiancé spurns her with utter disdain and disgust. Their mother retreats to her brother’s home while Camille and her sister move to Bath to live as mere Misses with their Grandmother.

Camille, feeling compelled to redefine herself, takes a job as a teacher at the very orphanage where Anna grew up. Camille has no real idea what she is doing but she also has no idea who she is anymore.

Joel is an artist who was raised at the orphanage and now comes twice a week to teach art to some of the students. Camille isn’t familiar with the ‘common’ man but she is drawn to this rustic man who presents a rough version of a gentleman.

Joel resents Camille’s attitude toward his childhood crush, Anna. Yet his respect for Camille grows as he watches her creative handling of the children while struggling to sort her own self-identity. Slowly Joel and Camille develop a friendship seeking comfort in the form of ‘someone to hold’.

This story started out a bit slowly with Camille as a character who was not so easy to like. Fortunately, her character grows as the story progresses. I loved her experiences learning to feel emotions – pain and love – and the possibility of finding happiness. I also enjoyed the twists that occur in Joel’s circumstances that add a good element of irony.

Ms. Balogh succeeds in making this a delightful read with her strong, natural characters in a new, different, situation. I enjoyed this second book in the series even though I had not read the first book, Someone to Love, which is Anna’s turnabout of fortunes. I am always comfortable recommending Mary Balogh books especially to those who enjoy historical romance with strong characters without graphic sex.

I received this title through NetGalley. It qualifies for my 2017 NetGalley Challenge.

Book Review: Midnight in Death by J.D. Robb

You'll find quick crime thrills in this short story from the "In Death" series.
Midnight in Death
by J.D. Robb 

• File Size: 381 KB
• Print Length: 96 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (September 27, 2005)
• Sold by: Penguin Publishing
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000OZ0NW6

Genre: Crime Thriller
My Rating: 4.0 of 5.0

Book Description
Release Date: September 27, 2005 | Series: In Death
The number-one New York Times bestselling In Death series explodes with intrigue, passion, and suspense.  Now, Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, propels you into the darkest night of Lieutenant Eve Dallas's life—when a killer comes to call...
Eve's name has made a Christmas list, but it's not for being naughty or nice.  It's for putting a serial killer behind bars.  Now the escaped madman has her in his sights.  With her husband, Roarke, at her side, Eve must stop the man from exacting his bloody vengeance—or die trying...

Review:
This is book 7.5 of the “In Death” series featuring futuristic NY detective, Eve Dallas, and her hunky, master financial wizard, husband, Roarke.

Eve and Roarke are planning on celebrating their first Christmas and New Year’s holidays as a married couple. Considering that they both had troubled childhoods they are hoping to set new traditions now that they have found love together.  Unfortunately their plans are interrupted by a sadistic killer, from Eve’s past.  The Christmas eve call brings Dallas to the huge Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center where a local judge hangs naked with a message carved on his chest. The killer, David Palmer, has escaped from prison and has left a list of targets he plans to capture and torture to death, including Eve herself. 

Eve calls in her usual support team: Peabody, Feeney and McNab. This is a short story but has the usual high intensity team police procedures, crime suspense and good, if limited, character interaction of the full novels. The investigation is fast and furious as victims are snatched in spite of police protection. Eve’s friend and psychologist, Dr. Mira, is also on the list too so Eve has extra incentive to stop the killer before he gets his hands on anyone else.  In between the crime scenes and trying to puzzle out the killer’s location and next moves there are enjoyable dialogue and romance scenes for Eve and Roarke.

I know the result was inevitable but I was a little disappointed that the very clever killer, who could get around so many police security measures, is brought down rather easily at the end. Otherwise this short story has all of the wonderful features I enjoy in this series and I am ready to pick up book 8, Conspiracy in Death, for the next ‘Dallas’ adrenaline hit. If you like crime thrillers and you haven’t tried this series yet I highly recommend it. This one is okay as a stand alone but you’ll enjoy the characters more if you start from the beginning.

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Opening paragraph:

   Murder respects no traditions. It ignores sentiment. It takes no holidays.

I do love this series and had to get some of it in before the year flew by! This is from my own TBR Kindle library.

What was I thinking when I limited my challenge to two years for this series (now up to 35 not including the 8 shorts)? I will be updating my button to make it a Challenge but no year - however long it takes. :-)