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The undisputed queen of Regency romance, Mary Balogh, is back with a brand-new story perfect for fans of Bridgerton – Remember Love.
Book Synopsis of Remember Love by Mary Balogh
The handsome and charismatic Earl of Stratton, Caleb Ware, has been exposed to the ton for his clandestine affairs—by his own son.
As a child, Devlin Ware thought his family stood for all that was right and good in the world. They were kind, gracious, and shared the beauty of Ravenwood, their grand country estate, by hosting lavish parties for the entire countryside. But at twenty-two, he discovered his whole world was an elaborate illusion, and when Devlin publicly called his family to account for it, he was exiled as a traitor.
So be it. He enlisted in the fight against Napoleon and didn’t look back for six years. But now his father is dead, the Ware family is broken, and as the heir he is being called home. It’s only when Gwyneth Rhys—the woman he loved and then lost after his family banished him—holds out her hand to help him that he is able make the difficult journey and try to piece together his fractured family.
It is Gwyneth’s loyalty, patience, and love that he needs. But is Devlin’s war-hardened heart even capable of offering her love in return?
Mary Balogh is the Queen of Regency Romance
Bridgerton author Julia Quinn perfectly said it when she was quoted as calling Mary Balogh “The queen of Regency romance”.
She is a 37 time New York Times best selling author and the creator of fan favorite series such as The Bedwyn Saga and the recent Westcott Series. Her standalone novels from the 1980s are so popular and well loved that they have been reprinted and digitized in the last six years.
I remember sitting in the stacks in the public library in high school and college reading classic Mary Balogh romances in between my studies. My favorites were always her stories of second chance love. For a fan of Jane Austen’s Persuasion (my all-time favorite romance), I think the first Mary Balogh romance I ever read was The Constant Heart that to this date still makes my throat constrict with the raw emotion when the hero goes crashing through the trees after proclaiming his passion for our heroine. A speech by a Balogh hero (and heroine) is not one to be easily ignored nor dismissed.
Fans also adore when Mary Balogh draws upon her native Wales for inspiration such as she did with Simply Love and Longing, to name but two favorite Mary Balogh novels. It is with delight that we see the heroine of Remember Love, Gwenyth Rhys, is Welsh and prone to spout Welsh lyrics and terms of endearment.
Mary Balogh’s Remember Love. A Book Review.
Devlin Ware is a hero of high honor whom fans can admire from the first pages of the book. He loves his family and falls in love with a beautiful young lady from the neighborhood who has been in love with him since she was a young girl. However, of course, something must happen to cause our hero and heroine torment or the book would be over within a few short chapters.
And Mary Balogh definitely delivers plenty of drama and turmoil when Devlin’s world is rocked and he is exiled as a traitor. Not only is Devlin’s world turned upside down but so is his family and that of his young love, Gwenyth, who must come to terms with his leaving and the changes when he returns.
There are no major surprises that come from a reading of Remember Love but it is all the same still very entertaining and will have the reader spending their weekend curled up in bed turning pages nonstop.
Hopes for the Ravenwood Series
Being the first book of a new series, Remember Love does an excellent job introducing the main characters and wetting our appetites for what is to come.
I am especially interested and excited to see what is planned for Ben Ellis (the illegitimate son of Caleb Ware) and also for Devlin’s eldest sister, Philippa.
Check out my review of Philippa’s story, Remember Me.
Do share in the comments below what you’re most excited about!
Favorite Mary Balogh Books to Read
If you are a fan of second chance romances, check out:
- A Chance Encounter
- Constant Heart
- Christmas Belle
- Dancing with Clara (a terrific example of a villain turned hero)
- Unforgiven
Other favorite Balogh romances, check out:
- A Counterfeit Betrothal
- A Precious Jewel
- At Last Comes Love
- Courting Julia (Julia reminds this reader much of our latest heroine, Gwenyth)
- Lord Carew’s Bride
- The Secret Pearl
Thanks to Mary Balogh and NetGalley for providing the preview copy. All opinions are my own.
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