muguete's review against another edition
3.0
Would be less than 3 stars, but I love the four "ladies" and the way heroine's uncle reacted when he knew the truth.
julianaphilippa's review against another edition
5.0
Great, great read - Rachel and Alleyne are wonderful, and the secondary characters extremely colorful
SUMMARY (Bedwyn Family, Book 5):
Slightly Sinful overlaps significantly (chronologically speaking) with the previous book in the Bedwyn series, [b:Slightly Tempted|110303|Slightly Tempted (Slightly series #4)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171635988s/110303.jpg|106303] (Morgan and Gervase's story). Lord Alleyne Bedwyn (26), working as a British diplomat in Brussels, is sent to deliver a letter to the Duke of Wellington during the Battle of Waterloo. He receives a reply letter to deliver and heads back to Brussels, though he is in pain from being shot in the leg. When his horse throws him from the saddle, he hits his head and is knocked unconscious.
When we meet Miss Rachel York (22), she is practically all alone in the world, with an estranged uncle as her only remaining relative. She has recently split with her betrothed, who was a relatively new acquaintance made while she was a companion to an elderly woman in Brussels. After entrusting her pretty meager funds to him and convincing four other women to do the same, she overhears him and his sister talking and realizes that they are not the charitable Christians they appear to be (he's posing as a reverend) but are in fact con artists. They had been departing Belgium and heading for England, but she makes a quick getaway and returns to Brussels and the four women, whom she feels honor-bound to tell the truth to and in some way recompense.
The four women (fantastic characters! - they had me laughing throughout the book) are Flossie Streat, Geraldine Ness, Phyllis Leavey, and Bridget Clover, the latter of whom was Rachel's nurse for six years in her youth. They are prostitutes and have been running a brothel for the past four years, saving up money so that they can return to England and retire.
I tend to be long-winded in these descriptions, so I'll try to cut it down to the basics (and fail horribly): Rachel comes across Alleyne and the women take him in, nursing him back to health. Due to his fall, he has amnesia and unfortunately remembers nothing, including his own name; he is given a new one in the meantime - "Jonathan Smith." They also pick up Sergeant William Strickland (another wonderful secondary character), a soldier who lost one of his eyes at the Battle of Waterloo. They all head to England after deciding to visit Rachel's uncle, Baron Weston, in order to deceive him into thinking that Rachel and "Jonathan" are betrothed so that she can secure the jewels her mother left her. They will then be able to track down the evil con artists and get back their money. Of course, things don't go exactly as planned - nothing in life is ever that simple - but everything ends well and there are happy/deserved endings all around (who would expect otherwise?!).
REACTION:
I greatly enjoyed this book and thought it was a real treat, especially after having been somewhat disappointed by [b:Slightly Tempted|110303|Slightly Tempted (Slightly series #4)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171635988s/110303.jpg|106303] I've looked through some of the Amazon.com reviews and have seen many of the same complaints. The first is that people are tired of Balogh's repeated use of the same plot devices: fake/will-be-broken-off betrothals; in this case she goes past a fake engagement to a fake marriage (my question is, has anyone else also noticed how there is *always* a lake with a small island that the main characters row to and make love on?!?). The second complaint is that this book's plot leaned to the implausible.
My response to the first would be that I agree, but that Balogh is such a good writer that when she is able to succeed in all other ways (good writing, great chemistry, wonderful characters) I frankly don't care, but that's personal preference. To the second, I really have to protest - do we actually read these books because they are based on reality and believability? No, we read it for the romance and the chemistry, for the wonderful if-only-they-were-real-and-waiting-outside-my-door heroes and the great, strong heroines whom we can (let's face it) either imagine to be us in another life and alternate universe or a dear, dear friend, so we can share in the happiness.
CHARACTERS (main and secondary):
The book is brimming with wonderful characters. It's nice for a change to read about a Bedwyn who doesn't carry himself with haughtiness and arrogance, but instead has an easy grin and is good-humored (even before he falls in love!). Alleyne definitely changes from how we've seen him in past stories (somewhat shallow and aimless) to how he is by the end of the book (responsible, with a sense of purpose), and I think the development rings true and is well-done. I thought Rachel was a great heroine (and what a great change to have the heroine save the hero - literally). She's a strong young woman who has had a painful childhood and youth, but is hard-working and tries to be positive. I especially liked that she was friends with the wonderful female-quartet and was slightly protective of them, refusing to look down on them because of their profession (though I don't think Balogh should have had her call them "whores" in her thoughts as often as she does at the beginning).
Not only are the hero and heroine wonderful, but all of the secondary characters are well-written and add much laughter and tenderness to the story. The reunion that Alleyne has with his family is very emotional if you've read the other Bedwyn books, though I'll concede it occurs later in the book than I had expected. I also agree with the other reviewer who said that Balogh was brave in having the first romantic encounter not be wonderfully successful so that we can see the characters work through it; adds a certain reality to the story which is otherwise blissfully far too perfect to be real. I loved this book and think it is definitely one of the best ones of the series (ranks up there with [b:Slightly Married|110295|Slightly Married (Slightly series #1)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171635895s/110295.jpg|344054] and [b:Slightly Dangerous|71648|Slightly Dangerous (Slightly series #6)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170782663s/71648.jpg|69382], IMO).
SUMMARY (Bedwyn Family, Book 5):
Slightly Sinful overlaps significantly (chronologically speaking) with the previous book in the Bedwyn series, [b:Slightly Tempted|110303|Slightly Tempted (Slightly series #4)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171635988s/110303.jpg|106303] (Morgan and Gervase's story). Lord Alleyne Bedwyn (26), working as a British diplomat in Brussels, is sent to deliver a letter to the Duke of Wellington during the Battle of Waterloo. He receives a reply letter to deliver and heads back to Brussels, though he is in pain from being shot in the leg. When his horse throws him from the saddle, he hits his head and is knocked unconscious.
When we meet Miss Rachel York (22), she is practically all alone in the world, with an estranged uncle as her only remaining relative. She has recently split with her betrothed, who was a relatively new acquaintance made while she was a companion to an elderly woman in Brussels. After entrusting her pretty meager funds to him and convincing four other women to do the same, she overhears him and his sister talking and realizes that they are not the charitable Christians they appear to be (he's posing as a reverend) but are in fact con artists. They had been departing Belgium and heading for England, but she makes a quick getaway and returns to Brussels and the four women, whom she feels honor-bound to tell the truth to and in some way recompense.
The four women (fantastic characters! - they had me laughing throughout the book) are Flossie Streat, Geraldine Ness, Phyllis Leavey, and Bridget Clover, the latter of whom was Rachel's nurse for six years in her youth. They are prostitutes and have been running a brothel for the past four years, saving up money so that they can return to England and retire.
I tend to be long-winded in these descriptions, so I'll try to cut it down to the basics (and fail horribly): Rachel comes across Alleyne and the women take him in, nursing him back to health. Due to his fall, he has amnesia and unfortunately remembers nothing, including his own name; he is given a new one in the meantime - "Jonathan Smith." They also pick up Sergeant William Strickland (another wonderful secondary character), a soldier who lost one of his eyes at the Battle of Waterloo. They all head to England after deciding to visit Rachel's uncle, Baron Weston, in order to deceive him into thinking that Rachel and "Jonathan" are betrothed so that she can secure the jewels her mother left her. They will then be able to track down the evil con artists and get back their money. Of course, things don't go exactly as planned - nothing in life is ever that simple - but everything ends well and there are happy/deserved endings all around (who would expect otherwise?!).
REACTION:
I greatly enjoyed this book and thought it was a real treat, especially after having been somewhat disappointed by [b:Slightly Tempted|110303|Slightly Tempted (Slightly series #4)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171635988s/110303.jpg|106303] I've looked through some of the Amazon.com reviews and have seen many of the same complaints. The first is that people are tired of Balogh's repeated use of the same plot devices: fake/will-be-broken-off betrothals; in this case she goes past a fake engagement to a fake marriage (my question is, has anyone else also noticed how there is *always* a lake with a small island that the main characters row to and make love on?!?). The second complaint is that this book's plot leaned to the implausible.
My response to the first would be that I agree, but that Balogh is such a good writer that when she is able to succeed in all other ways (good writing, great chemistry, wonderful characters) I frankly don't care, but that's personal preference. To the second, I really have to protest - do we actually read these books because they are based on reality and believability? No, we read it for the romance and the chemistry, for the wonderful if-only-they-were-real-and-waiting-outside-my-door heroes and the great, strong heroines whom we can (let's face it) either imagine to be us in another life and alternate universe or a dear, dear friend, so we can share in the happiness.
CHARACTERS (main and secondary):
The book is brimming with wonderful characters. It's nice for a change to read about a Bedwyn who doesn't carry himself with haughtiness and arrogance, but instead has an easy grin and is good-humored (even before he falls in love!). Alleyne definitely changes from how we've seen him in past stories (somewhat shallow and aimless) to how he is by the end of the book (responsible, with a sense of purpose), and I think the development rings true and is well-done. I thought Rachel was a great heroine (and what a great change to have the heroine save the hero - literally). She's a strong young woman who has had a painful childhood and youth, but is hard-working and tries to be positive. I especially liked that she was friends with the wonderful female-quartet and was slightly protective of them, refusing to look down on them because of their profession (though I don't think Balogh should have had her call them "whores" in her thoughts as often as she does at the beginning).
Not only are the hero and heroine wonderful, but all of the secondary characters are well-written and add much laughter and tenderness to the story. The reunion that Alleyne has with his family is very emotional if you've read the other Bedwyn books, though I'll concede it occurs later in the book than I had expected. I also agree with the other reviewer who said that Balogh was brave in having the first romantic encounter not be wonderfully successful so that we can see the characters work through it; adds a certain reality to the story which is otherwise blissfully far too perfect to be real. I loved this book and think it is definitely one of the best ones of the series (ranks up there with [b:Slightly Married|110295|Slightly Married (Slightly series #1)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171635895s/110295.jpg|344054] and [b:Slightly Dangerous|71648|Slightly Dangerous (Slightly series #6)|Mary Balogh|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170782663s/71648.jpg|69382], IMO).
sonni89's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. I loved this one A LOT. Yes, it was tropey to the max and I can always do without but this one was so nicely executed and gave me THE FREAKING GREATEST
Also, Rachel was the most wonderful heroine and such a badass, and I love her a lot. And I also love her entire entourage. AMAZING LADIES!!!!
Spoiler
amnesia plotsSpoiler
BEDWYN FAMILY REUNION I COULD HAVE WISHED FOR!!! MORGAN!!! ALL OF THE FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS CAME BACK TO HIM WHEN HE HUGGED HER :(((( FREYJA SLAPPING HIM, BEST!!!!! AND THEN WULFRIC, THE STOIC AND INTIMIDATING DUKE WITH FEEEEEEELINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM STILL SO EMOTIONAL ABOUT IT ALL!!!Also, Rachel was the most wonderful heroine and such a badass, and I love her a lot. And I also love her entire entourage. AMAZING LADIES!!!!
andra_mihaela_s's review
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Sexual content, and Injury/injury detail
booked_with_vi's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the cast of characters. MB writes amazing HRs and I’m so sad to be nearing the end of this series.
If you like Julie Anne Long’s Palace of Rogues series, you’ll love this book!
If you like Julie Anne Long’s Palace of Rogues series, you’ll love this book!
nipomuki's review against another edition
4.0
I liked the premise with the brothel, and the amnesia story line. So much was going on. I was also very much into the redemption of the relationship between Rachel and her uncle. And I found the hero quite likeable in his vulnerability.
This hero was the first in this series to at least attempt some sort of contraception.
Again I thought about Veryan and how she was urged to include sex scenes in her historicals. She refused and stayed true to her old fashioned ways. Balogh obviously was able to better adapt to the needs of a modern audience, but I am not sure she is entirely comfortable with it. As I am not reading my romance for the sex, I am completely ok with Veryan‘s approach. Because even though her heroes and heroines never have sex before marriage, and no on the page sex at all, she has - in my opinion - written some of the hottest heroes and hottest scenes in historical romance ever.
This hero was the first in this series to at least attempt some sort of contraception.
Again I thought about Veryan and how she was urged to include sex scenes in her historicals. She refused and stayed true to her old fashioned ways. Balogh obviously was able to better adapt to the needs of a modern audience, but I am not sure she is entirely comfortable with it. As I am not reading my romance for the sex, I am completely ok with Veryan‘s approach. Because even though her heroes and heroines never have sex before marriage, and no on the page sex at all, she has - in my opinion - written some of the hottest heroes and hottest scenes in historical romance ever.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
4.0
At its core, this is a story about family, both those we're born into and those we find along the way. Balogh never fails to make me cry, and I can't wait to read Wulf's book next.
pnwdermnrs's review against another edition
2.0
Slightly Sinful? More like Slightly Sleep-Inducing. I've enjoyed this series so far, but This one was a miss for me. The plot felt like a recycled jumble of too many tropes. The burn was painfully slow and the H and h had zero chemistry. I finished it, but just barely. It's only appeal was Rachael's friends, whose characterization as whores with hearts of gold was a bit tired, but who were sassy and fun and made me smile. I really would have been more interested in Geraldine and the Sergeant's story.