Helpful Score: 6
~ BEST OF THE SERIES and of Mary Balogh; a perfect ending for all of us Bedwyn family fans (5 stars) ~
SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS is the sixth and final book in Mary Balogh's Bedwyn family series and takes place two to two and a half years (it spreads out over several months) after Rachel and Alleyne's wedding in SLIGHTLY SINFUL. It is absolute perfection and reading it will make you giddy - and in several locations laugh out loud. I think it's the **best** of the series, which is saying something since IMO often the final books in series aren't as good as the first ones and with a character like Wulfric ... I mean, after encountering him in six of Balogh's previous books, it almost seems impossible that he could possibly be a hero in his own romance! One is compelled to read the book if only to discover how Balogh could possibly pull off such a thing and what heroine on earth could make it all believable.
MAIN CHARACTERS, Christine and Wulfric:
Mrs. Christine Derrick is 29 years old and has been a widow for two years. She was married at the age of 20 to Oscar Derrick, the younger brother of Basil, Viscount Elrick. She is absolutely enchanting (as Wulfric himself calls her), a heroine full of vitality and genuine kindness who has a passion for life and living and lacks any pretension or artifice. She is sometimes self-conscious, since she has a tendency to get in embarrassing public scraps, but she easily engages and wins over everyone she meets (best of all, she's able to laugh at herself whenever she does blunder).
Wulfric Bedwyn, Duke of Bewcastle is 35 years old and has never been married. When SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS begins his mistress of 10 years has just died and with all of his siblings happily married off (and reproducing at a rate you wouldn't believe!!) he feels uncharacteristically lonely; that's what propels him to impulsively accept the invitation to the house party, something he would normally never do. He is austere, cold, hard, **extremely** haughty and arrogant - every inch the powerful duke that he is - and just the last man on earth whom you could possibly imagine falling in love or feeling passion. Ah, but read this book and you will realize how wrong you are. :-)
They are opposites in so many ways: Christine is lightness and laughter and joy and Wulfric is austerity and haughtiness and oppressive duty. Yet Balogh does such an *incredible* job at writing them and their relationship that the chemistry between Christine and Wulfric is unbelievably magnetic. I mean you have to hand it to her: SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS has a hero who does not - I repeat, DOES NOT - smile or laugh until page 347 (out of 365 pages) and yet the love story between them will sweep you off your feet and you will absolutely adore and believe every single encounter and every single progression of their relationship. Now THAT, in my opinion, is talent.
READ AFTER OTHER BEDWYN BOOKS:
If anyone is considering reading SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS having not read any of the previous Bedwyn books, I would discourage it for one simple reason: to truly appreciate and understand Wulfric's character and heighten your enjoyment of the romance, it helps to be lead up to this point after having read the five sibling romances (and A SUMMER TO REMEMBER if you like, a prequel where the Bedwyn family is first introduced). This book can stand alone I suppose, though one could easily get lost with all of the various Bedwyn siblings, spouses, and children that appear (joy!). But to feel what I described at the beginning - a sense of complete incredulity that Wulfric could possibly be involved in a romance and a burning curiosity as to who such a romance would be with and how it would progress - you would have to already know him from Balogh's previous Bedwyn books. (They're great reads!)
There are many different types of heroes that we encounter in this genre, but no serious-never-smiles hero that you have EVER read could possibly live up to the Duke of Bewcastle. So many times when we read about those types of heroes, they melt surprisingly fast in the presence of the heroine, they begin to change and start laughing relatively easily. To fully be able to comprehend how ice-cold this man is, it helps to know him from the other books; literally, if someone hugged him you feel like they would immediately catch hypothermia. However, we have also been teased with one or two moments in each previous book with a glimpse of not a top-lofty unbelievably arrogant duke, but of a mere man who feels not only duty and responsibility, but who is very alone in all his power and feels a deep love for each of his siblings.
SIGH-FILLED HEART-MELTING SCENE (one of many):
"I would be consumed by you," she said, and blinked her eyes furiously when she felt them fill with tears. "You would sap all the energy and all the joy from me. You would put all the fire of my vitality."
"Give me a chance to fan the flames of that fire," he said, "and to nurture your joy."
BOTTOM LINE:
**READ IT** (after having read the other five books in the Bedwyn series)!!! Buy the book (definite keeper and re-read) and prepare yourself for a read-in-one-sitting romance filled with Bedwyn siblings and spouses, a hint of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, laugh-out-loud scenes, unbelievable chemistry, dialogue and thoughts by the hero that will have you sighing constantly, and a delightful heroine.
P.S.
1) WHY does Balogh always write "head over ears" in love instead of "head over heels"???
2) Stop complaining about his quizzing glasses everyone - they're horrid, yes, but Christine thinks so too and the two scenes where she lets her annoyance and humor about them show are priceless!
3) And sorry but I have to write the following: This is to all historical romance writers out there, including Balogh - curls are NEVER EVER EVER brushed! As a young woman who has had ridiculously curly hair all her life, I can tell you with utmost certainty that *no one* with curly hair would EVER dream of brushing their curls! Show me someone who does and I'll show you someone who looks like they just put their finger in an electrical socket. Sorry, but just had to get that off my chest.
(http://historical-romance-heaven.blogspot.com)
SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS is the sixth and final book in Mary Balogh's Bedwyn family series and takes place two to two and a half years (it spreads out over several months) after Rachel and Alleyne's wedding in SLIGHTLY SINFUL. It is absolute perfection and reading it will make you giddy - and in several locations laugh out loud. I think it's the **best** of the series, which is saying something since IMO often the final books in series aren't as good as the first ones and with a character like Wulfric ... I mean, after encountering him in six of Balogh's previous books, it almost seems impossible that he could possibly be a hero in his own romance! One is compelled to read the book if only to discover how Balogh could possibly pull off such a thing and what heroine on earth could make it all believable.
MAIN CHARACTERS, Christine and Wulfric:
Mrs. Christine Derrick is 29 years old and has been a widow for two years. She was married at the age of 20 to Oscar Derrick, the younger brother of Basil, Viscount Elrick. She is absolutely enchanting (as Wulfric himself calls her), a heroine full of vitality and genuine kindness who has a passion for life and living and lacks any pretension or artifice. She is sometimes self-conscious, since she has a tendency to get in embarrassing public scraps, but she easily engages and wins over everyone she meets (best of all, she's able to laugh at herself whenever she does blunder).
Wulfric Bedwyn, Duke of Bewcastle is 35 years old and has never been married. When SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS begins his mistress of 10 years has just died and with all of his siblings happily married off (and reproducing at a rate you wouldn't believe!!) he feels uncharacteristically lonely; that's what propels him to impulsively accept the invitation to the house party, something he would normally never do. He is austere, cold, hard, **extremely** haughty and arrogant - every inch the powerful duke that he is - and just the last man on earth whom you could possibly imagine falling in love or feeling passion. Ah, but read this book and you will realize how wrong you are. :-)
They are opposites in so many ways: Christine is lightness and laughter and joy and Wulfric is austerity and haughtiness and oppressive duty. Yet Balogh does such an *incredible* job at writing them and their relationship that the chemistry between Christine and Wulfric is unbelievably magnetic. I mean you have to hand it to her: SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS has a hero who does not - I repeat, DOES NOT - smile or laugh until page 347 (out of 365 pages) and yet the love story between them will sweep you off your feet and you will absolutely adore and believe every single encounter and every single progression of their relationship. Now THAT, in my opinion, is talent.
READ AFTER OTHER BEDWYN BOOKS:
If anyone is considering reading SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS having not read any of the previous Bedwyn books, I would discourage it for one simple reason: to truly appreciate and understand Wulfric's character and heighten your enjoyment of the romance, it helps to be lead up to this point after having read the five sibling romances (and A SUMMER TO REMEMBER if you like, a prequel where the Bedwyn family is first introduced). This book can stand alone I suppose, though one could easily get lost with all of the various Bedwyn siblings, spouses, and children that appear (joy!). But to feel what I described at the beginning - a sense of complete incredulity that Wulfric could possibly be involved in a romance and a burning curiosity as to who such a romance would be with and how it would progress - you would have to already know him from Balogh's previous Bedwyn books. (They're great reads!)
There are many different types of heroes that we encounter in this genre, but no serious-never-smiles hero that you have EVER read could possibly live up to the Duke of Bewcastle. So many times when we read about those types of heroes, they melt surprisingly fast in the presence of the heroine, they begin to change and start laughing relatively easily. To fully be able to comprehend how ice-cold this man is, it helps to know him from the other books; literally, if someone hugged him you feel like they would immediately catch hypothermia. However, we have also been teased with one or two moments in each previous book with a glimpse of not a top-lofty unbelievably arrogant duke, but of a mere man who feels not only duty and responsibility, but who is very alone in all his power and feels a deep love for each of his siblings.
SIGH-FILLED HEART-MELTING SCENE (one of many):
"I would be consumed by you," she said, and blinked her eyes furiously when she felt them fill with tears. "You would sap all the energy and all the joy from me. You would put all the fire of my vitality."
"Give me a chance to fan the flames of that fire," he said, "and to nurture your joy."
BOTTOM LINE:
**READ IT** (after having read the other five books in the Bedwyn series)!!! Buy the book (definite keeper and re-read) and prepare yourself for a read-in-one-sitting romance filled with Bedwyn siblings and spouses, a hint of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, laugh-out-loud scenes, unbelievable chemistry, dialogue and thoughts by the hero that will have you sighing constantly, and a delightful heroine.
P.S.
1) WHY does Balogh always write "head over ears" in love instead of "head over heels"???
2) Stop complaining about his quizzing glasses everyone - they're horrid, yes, but Christine thinks so too and the two scenes where she lets her annoyance and humor about them show are priceless!
3) And sorry but I have to write the following: This is to all historical romance writers out there, including Balogh - curls are NEVER EVER EVER brushed! As a young woman who has had ridiculously curly hair all her life, I can tell you with utmost certainty that *no one* with curly hair would EVER dream of brushing their curls! Show me someone who does and I'll show you someone who looks like they just put their finger in an electrical socket. Sorry, but just had to get that off my chest.
(http://historical-romance-heaven.blogspot.com)
Helpful Score: 4
One of the best of the Bedwyn series! Christine is perfect for Wulfric.. they remind me of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. A great read.
Helpful Score: 2
I'm very glad Balogh didn't do the fake marriage thing and just stuck to the relationship between Wulf and Christine. Christine was wonderfully refreshing because for the most part she didn't care what people thought about her. She did things she wanted. I also love how Wulf doesn't completely change into her ideal man.
Wonderfully put together.
Wonderfully put together.
Helpful Score: 2
This book is right up there as one of my go-to books. I love how all the siblings assist in this romance. The 'mystery' is very surprising. It is fun to see how the 'all-knowing, contained' hero falls for the spontaneous heroine. I love this book.
Helpful Score: 1
Mary Balogh closes out the Slightly series with the Duke of Bewcastle meeting a woman who drives him crazy while he can't get her out of his mind. Fabulous finish to a great family series.
Helpful Score: 1
This is perhaps my favorite as there was much humor written into the book. The interactions of Wulfric and Christine were fun to read. Mary Balogh has done a fabulous job in the character development!
Helpful Score: 1
Fast paced, interesting multi-layered characters, compelling story line. I enjoy Mary Balough and this last of the Bedwyn series does not disappoint.
Helpful Score: 1
I really enjoyed this one in this series. So far, I believe it's been my favorite.
Helpful Score: 1
historical romance, very romantic, very interesting
Helpful Score: 1
I like Mary Balogh books but I found this one to be deadfully boring. I could not wait for it to end but it just seemed to drag on forever. This is the eighth and final book of the Bedwyn Family series.
Helpful Score: 1
Believable Characters!
Helpful Score: 1
The Last book in the series, It was ok was expecting alot more from this book
Helpful Score: 1
best of the series!
Helpful Score: 1
This book reminded me a lot of Pride and Prejudice. That was actually a good thing, it made me enjoy the book more. The lead character, Wulf, has been such a recluse of ice in the past books that it was actually nice to see who he was in this novel. I love wounded male leads in romance novels so this book satisfied me completely.
Helpful Score: 1
I would rate this book a 12 if I could
Helpful Score: 1
When Wulfric Bedwyn, the Duke of Bewcastle, attends a summer house party, he meets Christine Derrick. Christine is a widow who is only attending the party as a favor to her friend. She is intrigued by the Duke...especially after he invites her to become his mistress. But Christine wants nothing to do with Wulfric, who she considers a cold, austere man with no heart.
This book started out slow for me. But it eventually picked up its pace and became a romantic story. Christine and Wulfric remind me of Jane Austen's Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. He is enamored of her, but believes she is beneath him. This book is a satisfying ending to Balogh's Bedwyn series. My rating: 4 Stars.
This book started out slow for me. But it eventually picked up its pace and became a romantic story. Christine and Wulfric remind me of Jane Austen's Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. He is enamored of her, but believes she is beneath him. This book is a satisfying ending to Balogh's Bedwyn series. My rating: 4 Stars.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful story of Wulfic finally being able to unbend from his duty of head of the famly
I loved this book more than the others from the series. Wulfric's character is just so deliciously masculine, yet vulnerable at the same time. Definitely lots of spine tingling scenarios with him!
The Bedwyn Family books are must reads read them all.
Great end to this series.
I absolutely loved this story.
Fans of Julie Garwood or Catherine Coulter will enjoy this author's books. I had a great time reading this one.
This is the sixth and final book in the Bedwyn series. It is Wulfric's story, the Duke of Bewcastle.
Meet the Bedwyns - six brothers and sisters - men and women of passion and privilege, daring and sensuality...Enter their dazzling world of high society and breathtaking seduction...where each will seek love, fight temptation, and court scandal...and where Wulfric's story finally comes to life. Eldest son, head of the Bedwyn family, he is cool, arrogant, mysterious, and...SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS
Sixth and last in the "Slightly" series, absolutely wonderful!!!!
Loved the character of Wulfric, cold as ice Duke of Bewcastle. His harsh demeaner melts with Christine as the story progresses. She slowly separtes the Duke from "Wulf" culminating in a romance based on love and understanding one of the other.
London is abuzz over the arrrival of Wulfric Bedwyn, at the most glittering social event of the season. But on the afternoon, only one woman would capture his attention- & she was the only female in the room who was not even trying. Christine Derrick is intrigued by the handsome duke.. all the more so when he invites her to become his mistress. An independent beauty, Christine confounds Wulfric at every turn. Yet even as he vows to seduce her, something stange and wonderful is happening Now for a man who thought he would ne er lose his heart, nothing less than love will do....
London is abuzz over the arrrival of Wulfric Bedwyn, at the most glittering social event of the season. But on the afternoon, only one woman would capture his attention- & she was the only female in the room who was not even trying. Christine Derrick is intrigued by the handsome duke.. all the more so when he invites her to become his mistress. An independent beauty, Christine confounds Wulfric at every turn. Yet even as he vows to seduce her, something stange and wonderful is happening Now for a man who thought he would ne er lose his heart, nothing less than love will do....
I loved it. I gave me my historical "romance" fix for the day.
Good book....I enjoyed reading it!
A wonderful conclusion to this great Bedwyn series ... Mary Balogh is the best!
This is one of the best books! I really enjoyed this!
This is the last book in the series about the Bedwyn Family. Could anyone melt the cold-as-ice heart of the family patriarch, Wulfric Bedwyn.
Romance novel.
Another of the Bedwyn series.This one is about Wulfric a cold as ice Duke and he is attracted to Christine who he tries to seduce.."for a man who thought he'd never lose his heart,nothing less than love will do..."
(From Cover)All of London is abuzz over the imminent arrival of Wulfric Bedwyn, the cold-as-ice Duke of Bewcastle, at the most glittering social event of the season. But on this dazzingly afternoon, only one woman would capture his attention-and she was the only female in the room whowasn't even trying. Christine Derrick is intrigued by the handsome duke...all the more so when he invites her to become his mistress. What red-blooded woman wouldn't enjoy a tumble in the bedsheets with a consummate lover-with no questions asked. An independent beauty,Christine confounds Wulfric at ever turn. Yet even as he vows to seduce her, something strange and wonderful is happening. Now for a man who thought he'd never lose his heart, nothing less than love will do...
Balogh's Bedwyn series. This one is the story of Wulfric himself
One of the most lukewarm, boring slow paced romances I've ever read. I chose this one based on other reviews WTF? This was my first Balogh and if this is her best, it will surely be my last! Don't waste your time. The characters are so one dimensional they are cardboard cutouts. The love scenes are lame. Don't waste your time! Improves a little toward the end, but that's not saying much!
