Slightly Married (Platinum Series)

Rating:
Summary: If this is supposed to be romance....
Review: I'm sorry, maybe I'm old fashioned, but I had no respect for Eve in this book. She let herself be used physically and emotionally by her first lover (who was a complete jerk) and then also by Aidan. I just couldn't root for her, or for Aidan either, who just did not tug at my heartstrings at all. I didn't find this book at all romantic and I hope Ms. Balogh doesn't screw up Wulfric's story the way she did this one.

Rating:
Summary: Slightly Perfect
Review: This is my first Mary Balogh and I was impressed. Ms. Balogh's portrayal of the duty-bound and honorable man in this book, Col. Aidan Bedwyn, was truly moving. My heart ached for Aidan's, whose mile-wide streak of honor makes him unable to declare his feelings easily. Misunderstanding pride for honor is proving a stumbling block to true happiness. The heroine, Eve, not daring to dream that it is possible for him to love her in return, was also believable and human (she even has a past!). Their happy ending was delightful.

I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5 simply because, in my opinion, Aidan's quick acceptance of Eve's eccentric household, and vice versa, was done a bit too glibly. It seemed to this reader that Eve's home of 'lame ducks' was fraught with dynamic potential enough to fill another book. I am not sure if this plot twist was done to show the depths of Aidan's gallantry or Eve's, but it all seemed to go too smoothly and felt a little like a plot afterthought, of some sort.

...But I have it BAD for the Wulf, Duke of Bewcastle, Aidan's older brother, and was disappointed that the younger brother and sister are to have their stories told next. I was literally PINING for Wulf at the close of his scene in this book when Aidan, observes that his brother Wulf is "now a cold, lonely aristocrat." I can assure you all that this Little Red Riding Hood wouldn't leave that 'Wulf' out in the cold! Besides me, what kind of woman will Balogh decide is good enough for the arrogant, handsome, powerful Duke? I can hardly WAIT for Wulf's story to be told!

Rating:
Summary: Slightly Boring
Review: This story is based on a "marriage of convenience " (which Ms Balogh has done with great success before in Tangled and The Temporary Wife), in which the hero, Colonel Lord Aidan, makes a promise to a dying officer to protect the man's sister. Aidan travels to Ringwood Manor and soon realizes that the only way to protect the sister (Eve) is by marrying her. Aidan and Eve come to an agreement. They will marry, then go their separate ways and never see each other again. The plan works for about a week until Aidan's brother finds out about the secrete marriage and forces the two of them back together.

The book has wonderful dialogue and thoroughly researched historical facts, but I found the plot of "Slightly Married" to be uninteresting and character development to be lacking. There was no depth to the book, no emotional drama, no sizzle or spark between the hero and the heroine. To me the story sounded flat and forced, almost like the entire book was thrown together in a day or two.

Another thing about the book that disappointed me was the final chapter. Usually this section of the book is a high point. A way to rap up loose ends and to give the reader a satisfying glimpse of the couple's happy future, but in "Slightly Married" the final chapter was used to introduce a new character. The author takes more than a few paragraphs to describe Aidan's brother Rannulf, and give details of his life and situation. To me this was an intrusion. It interrupted the reunion between the hero and the heroine and sounded suspiciously like a commercial or ad for the next book in the series.