A well-written and engaging romance
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I'm a real fan of Mary Balogh's books. I think "More Than A Mistress" and "The Secret Pearl" are brilliant pieces of writing with engaging characters. These are some of her older books though, her newer books are the "Slightly" series following the Bedwyn family and the "Simply" series which tell the stories of four schoolteachers (not all yet published).
Slightly Wicked, therefore, is a story about the Bedwyn family. It's the second in the series and follows Lord Rannulf Bedwyn, brother to the Duke of Bewcastle. The events take place a month after the close of the first book in the series, Slightly Married, which followed the story of Aidan, second brother.
Rannulf is a very different character. Both the Duke and Aidan have very much lived up to the expectations of their positions - they do their duties admirably (apart from Aidan marrying a coal-miner's daughter). Rannulf, as third son, should have gone into the church - but didn't. Instead he's spent the last decade or so not doing a great deal, just wandering about and having fun. He's pretty bored and not expecting much out of life but is on his way to see his grandmother, who has made him her heir.
On the way he comes across a stagecoach in the ditch with a number of stranded passengers. He agrees to ride to the next village for help but takes up one of the passengers, a young lady, on his horse. When they get to the village he realises that she is an actress and courtesan and so they spend a couple of very pleasant nights together. He offers to go with her to York, her destination, to prolong the acquaintance but she runs away without saying goodbye except in a letter.
However, it wouldn't make much of a story if that was it! Rannulf and Judith meet again under unexpected circumstances and although she's entirely unsuitable for him he can't quite seem to let go. Rannulf takes a while to work out what his feelings are, Judith's whole life seems to be going down the toilet, especially after someone tries to rape her. Her position in life as drudge to a family is insupportable, her carefree and unthinking brother is bringing their family to impoverishment and she finds herself the target of a nasty plot. Having her secret lover in the picture is even worse - she wanted a time in her life to remember and dream about but reality has a nasty habit of intruding.
Although I enjoyed this book I didn't feel that it quite engaged me as some of her others have done. I liked both characters, although there seemed to be a lot of importance placed on the fact that Judith was beautiful. The theme of Rannulf trying to at last live up to his responsibilities was lightly played - and Judith's learning of her beauty was also part of her growing experience. There's nothing wrong with this book, it just didn't grip me like some of her others which is a shame as she is an excellent writer.
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Wickedly brilliant
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If you love Mary Balogh books, you'll love this.
Slightly Wicked is the 2nd book of a six part bedwyn family saga, concentrates on Lord Rannulf Bedwyn third son of the bedwyn family and Judith Law gentlemans daughter. A chance meeting on a stormy afternoon. He on his way to see his grandmother, to be introduced to his possible future wife and she to fulfill her duties as a loving daughter and poor relation to her aunts family. Their paths cross which leads to adventure, discovery and love.
Brilliant book, (i've read 2 or 3 times) where the hero and heroine are deserved, your willing them to get together in the end. And the 'baddies' are loathed. Wanted the story to go on after to see how they all got on.
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