Helpful Score: 9
I liked this book but I didn't love it. I found the first half of the book a little slow but I really liked the second half.
Helpful Score: 3
An inspiring story of a teacher at Miss Martin's School for Girls who is invited to visit Joshua Moore's household (his wife is Lady Freyja, one of the famous Bedwyn's) along with her son David. Anne was never married, and even though she wasn't willing-was blamed for becoming pregnant. During her stay with them, she meets Wulfric's steward Sydnam Butler, who had suffered horribly during the war and because of his physical scars-believes that no woman will have them.
Can an unwed mother and a war-scarred veteran find love?
A very good, and inspiring novel.
Can an unwed mother and a war-scarred veteran find love?
A very good, and inspiring novel.
Helpful Score: 3
The "Simply" series has resparked my interest in the historial romance...having been diverted by the paranormal genre! What wonderful deeply scarred characters...filled with all the "what ifs" and misinterpretations that make love an exciting adventure! Well worth the read.
Helpful Score: 2
I think this is my favorite Balogh book to date. I just loved everything about it. The two wounded characters who find love and healing within each others arms, simply perfect. It was a beautiful, engrossing, angst-filled read and I have no nits to pick. It totally captured my attention and will be one I save to reread.
Helpful Score: 2
From the moment he was introduced as a secondary character I waited for Sydnam's story. Only a truly wonderful, special person was worthy of Sydnam Butler. I was very disappointed to see Mary Balogh give us a weak, watered down love interest such as Anne.
I won't go into all my dislikes about her - that would give away to much of the story - but suffice it to say, I found myself wanting my money back, even though I paid nothing for the book.
I won't go into all my dislikes about her - that would give away to much of the story - but suffice it to say, I found myself wanting my money back, even though I paid nothing for the book.
Helpful Score: 1
The simply books are great and such a catcher to read,make sure you read them all.
Helpful Score: 1
Great characters and story. A different twist on the historical romance- not all perfection.
Helpful Score: 1
Another nicely written, beautifully told story from Mary Balogh who is truly one of the best in the genre.
In Simply Love, she tells the story of Anne Jewel, an unwed mother whose son is the product of rape, and Sydnam Butler, the disfigured war hero missing both right arm and right eye. Both are scarred and lonely in their own ways. They become friends, and maybe more, but both have serious issues that impede their romance. Balough's device to resolve their impasse was kind of disappointing.
The book was a bit slow, and the sensuality in the book was kind of tepid. Considering it was such a significant hurdle for Anne, the ultimate consummation of their relationship was rather a let down.
The biggest quibble with the book is the telling of the backstory of Anne's rape. It was difficult to tell if the story had been told in more detail in Slightly Scandalous (which I haven't read) or she simply didn't wish to tell the reader what happened to Anne. We know she was raped, but how it happened or how anyone found out about it, besides her winding up pregnant, is unexplained. Having read what happened to Sydnam in A Summer To Remember, perhaps I didn't feel that way about the exposition of his backstory, but Balogh also took the time to have Syd tell Anne what happened to him that offered more details that in the other book.
Certainly a keeper, Sydnam is a wonderful character. Anne was a bit of a mixed bag. Easy to understand her emotional and sexual hangups, but she made a lot of choices that made her a bit of a fool.
In Simply Love, she tells the story of Anne Jewel, an unwed mother whose son is the product of rape, and Sydnam Butler, the disfigured war hero missing both right arm and right eye. Both are scarred and lonely in their own ways. They become friends, and maybe more, but both have serious issues that impede their romance. Balough's device to resolve their impasse was kind of disappointing.
The book was a bit slow, and the sensuality in the book was kind of tepid. Considering it was such a significant hurdle for Anne, the ultimate consummation of their relationship was rather a let down.
The biggest quibble with the book is the telling of the backstory of Anne's rape. It was difficult to tell if the story had been told in more detail in Slightly Scandalous (which I haven't read) or she simply didn't wish to tell the reader what happened to Anne. We know she was raped, but how it happened or how anyone found out about it, besides her winding up pregnant, is unexplained. Having read what happened to Sydnam in A Summer To Remember, perhaps I didn't feel that way about the exposition of his backstory, but Balogh also took the time to have Syd tell Anne what happened to him that offered more details that in the other book.
Certainly a keeper, Sydnam is a wonderful character. Anne was a bit of a mixed bag. Easy to understand her emotional and sexual hangups, but she made a lot of choices that made her a bit of a fool.
Helpful Score: 1
A tender love story.
Helpful Score: 1
book two in the series about Miss Martin's School for Girls. Anne meets Sydnam Butler. You will remember him as Kit's disfigured brother from the story about Kit Butler and Freyja Bewcastle. The whole Bewcastle clan become matchmakers...or at least try.
Helpful Score: 1
I was anticipating Sydnam and Anne's story with their intriguing backgrounds. I was slightly disappointed because the first half of the book was filled with so many assumptions between Anne and Sydnam that caused their problems it got a little annoying. Anne acts really bitchy a couple of times towards Sydnam and I just wanted to slap her.
It got better once they started helping each other overcome their hurtles. I thought Anne's fear of sexual intimacy was slightly too easily conquered.
Not my favorite but still okay.
It got better once they started helping each other overcome their hurtles. I thought Anne's fear of sexual intimacy was slightly too easily conquered.
Not my favorite but still okay.
Helpful Score: 1
Another nicely written, beautifully told story from Mary Balogh who is truly one of the best in the genre.
In Simply Love, she tells the story of Anne Jewel, an unwed mother whose son is the product of rape, and Sydnam Butler, the disfigured war hero missing both right arm and right eye. Both are scarred and lonely in their own ways. They become friends, and maybe more, but both have serious issues that impede their romance. Balough's device to resolve their impasse was kind of disappointing.
The book was a bit slow, and the sensuality in the book was kind of tepid. Considering it was such a significant hurdle for Anne, the ultimate consummation of their relationship was rather a let down.
The biggest quibble with the book is the telling of the backstory of Anne's rape. It was difficult to tell if the story had been told in more detail in Slightly Scandalous (which I haven't read) or she simply didn't wish to tell the reader what happened to Anne. We know she was raped, but how it happened or how anyone found out about it, besides her winding up pregnant, is unexplained. Having read what happened to Sydnam in A Summer To Remember, perhaps I didn't feel that way about the exposition of his backstory, but Balogh also took the time to have Syd tell Anne what happened to him that offered more details that in the other book.
Certainly a keeper, Sydnam is a wonderful character. Anne was a bit of a mixed bag. Easy to understand her emotional and sexual hangups, but she made a lot of choices that made her a bit of a fool.
In Simply Love, she tells the story of Anne Jewel, an unwed mother whose son is the product of rape, and Sydnam Butler, the disfigured war hero missing both right arm and right eye. Both are scarred and lonely in their own ways. They become friends, and maybe more, but both have serious issues that impede their romance. Balough's device to resolve their impasse was kind of disappointing.
The book was a bit slow, and the sensuality in the book was kind of tepid. Considering it was such a significant hurdle for Anne, the ultimate consummation of their relationship was rather a let down.
The biggest quibble with the book is the telling of the backstory of Anne's rape. It was difficult to tell if the story had been told in more detail in Slightly Scandalous (which I haven't read) or she simply didn't wish to tell the reader what happened to Anne. We know she was raped, but how it happened or how anyone found out about it, besides her winding up pregnant, is unexplained. Having read what happened to Sydnam in A Summer To Remember, perhaps I didn't feel that way about the exposition of his backstory, but Balogh also took the time to have Syd tell Anne what happened to him that offered more details that in the other book.
Certainly a keeper, Sydnam is a wonderful character. Anne was a bit of a mixed bag. Easy to understand her emotional and sexual hangups, but she made a lot of choices that made her a bit of a fool.
In this book, Balogh works her story telling genius again. The story line is just beautiful. Annie as an unwed mother and Sydnam a battle scarred veteran who had come to this manor to live out of the eye of people who were unkind. There the two meet quite by accident. It was a great read and I would definitely read it again.
I did enjoy this one. I read a review on the website for my favorite author, Judith McNaught, and it sounded good. I read a lot by Balogh, so I know that she is really good. I haven't read a stinker yet and this was one of her best. I hope to read the rest of the series soon.
Although I enjoyed this book and it was a sweet read, I found it a little bit implausible. When Anne first meets Syd, she literally runs from him, his disfigurement is so terrible. Eventually, the two learn to look past physical beauty to see the real beauty within. Anne, an unmarried woman, has an illegitimate child as the result of a rape. Yet when she and Syd first make love, she has no qualms until she is within the act itself....a little unbelievable there. But overall, this is a good read, just not my favorite by her.
I really enjoyed this author. She did a good job with the characters. I intend to look for more books by her.
a perfect romance!
very good.
A touching book with real depth of charecters. I've read it twice.
Book 2 of a quartet, Simply Love is a lovely moving story. Sydnam Bulter( brother to Kit Butler from A Summer to Remember)youngest son of an earl is maimed during the Napoleanic war and to be self suffient becomes steward to one of the Bedwyn estates. Anne(introduced in Slightly Scandalous) is a teacher at a girls school in Bath. This is not just a love story but a story of hope, courage, survival and family love. Very touching how Anne discovers the more she gets to know Sydnam that to her his scarring is unimportant and she sees his strength of will and depth of character. It was nice to have the Bedwyn's in the story, like a visit from old friends. I recommend any book by MB.
Simply Love is simply devine! A book where the hero is tragically wounded and disfigured during the war and the heroine is wounded in a way that is not seen by the eye. Both come together to heal each other's past hurts!
Sweet, uncomplicated story.
2006 book. I have enjoyed all of the Mary Balogh books I've read. This one also. Disfigured hero Sydnam Butler meets Anne Jewell, girl's school teacher who is a single mother. Between them they help remove the blocks to happiness in each other's lives. Set in Regency England.
As one book of a 4-book series, this was a very pleasing read. The story line is much what you would expect, but the characters are well developed and likeable. They are also familiar, if you've read the other 3 books in the series. For a happy, undemanding storyline and a "happy ever after" ending, I strongly recomment this series and this particular book, which can be read on its own as well.
good read!
I really like this series. Balogh is a great writer like Georgette Heyer with steamy sex!
This is a wonderful series. Mary Balogh rocks!
very moving
This is Balogh at her finest! I love this story of Anne Jewell, a teacher at Miss Martin's School for Girls, who is an unwed mother of a nine-year old son. She and Sydnam Butler, who is Wulfric Bedwyn's steward, meet each other in Wales at the Bedwyn estate. Anne and Sydnam are both haunted souls..........
Brand new book that is part of the Simply series. Sweet story that is entertaining
Wonderful 2nd book in this quartet!
Ann first spied him in the deepening dusk of Wales evening-a lone figure of breathtaking strength, his handsome face branded by a secret pain. For teacher and single mother Anne Jewell, Sydnam Butler is a man whose sorrows-and passions-run deeper than she could have ever imagined. As steward of a remote seaside manor, Sydnam lives a reclusive existence. Yet he senses in Anne a kindred soul, and between these two wary hearts, desire stirs. Unable to resist the passion that has rescued them both,Anne and Sydnam share an afternoon of exquisite lovemaking. As scandal looms, suddenly the unwed mother and the war-scarred veteran must make a decision that could forever alter their lives....
Anne first spied him in the deepening dusk of a Wales evening-a lone figure of breathtaking strength, his handsome face branded by a secret pain. For teacher and single mother Anne Jewell, Sydnam Butler is a man whose sorrows-and passions-run deeper than she could have ever imagined. As steward of a remote seaside manor, Sydnam lives a reclusive existanve. Yet he senses in Anne a kindred soul and between these two wary hearts, desire stirs. unable to resist the passion that has rescued them both. Anne and Sydnam share an afternoon of exquisite lovemaking. As scandal looms, suddenly the unwed mother and the war-scarred veteran must make a decision that could forever alter thier lives....
Front right hand corner was slightly damaged in transit to me. The whole cover is still intact, just a few punch marks from torn packaging.
