Tag: Mary Balogh

A Waltz to Remember by Mary Balogh

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), historical-romance, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Waltz to Remember (Ravenswood #6)A Waltz to Remember by Mary Balogh

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Ravenswood #6

Release Date: October 27, 2026

For years Lady Stephaine Ware has harbored a secret crush for her brother Owen’s friend, Bertrand Lamarr, Viscount Watley, but Stephaine knows a man so perfect would never be interested in a chubby, round-faced girl like her, so she keeps her distance. It takes some time, but eventually, Stephaine learns not to be so self-deprecating and begins to accept herself, yet when Bertrand asks if she will save a waltz for him at the Ravenswood Summer Fete ball, she not only declines his request, but is unpardonably rude to him before running away. She almost instantly regrets her action but has no chance to apologize for months. Her opportunity comes when they meet in Bath for her brother Nicholas’ wedding to his step-niece Winifred Cunningham. She gathers her courage and asks his forgiveness for her nasty and untrue insults; he forgives her and asks if they might start again as friends. Months later they met again in London, and he asks her if she would give him the chance to prove to her that they could be more than friends, she is skeptical but agrees.

Bertrand, Viscount Watley has admired Lady Stephanie for years and had hoped to court her, but when he asked her for a dance, she was viscous in her refusal, so much so that Bertrand began to believe he actually hated her. Yet when they meet again and she apologizes, he immediately forgives her and asks if they could be friends. He thinks that will be enough and sets his sites to finding a bride and starting a family. He goes to London and begins to court a young lady, who by all his standards, would be a perfect bride, but he feels nothing beyond mild admiration for her. By chance he runs into Lady Stephanie on the night he decides to end the courtship and realizes that Stephaine is still the lady he wants. He gets her to agree to give him a chance to prove they could be perfect for each other, now he just needs to get her to see what he has seen for years.

I had been looking forward to Stephaine’s story and was delighted to learn this book would be her story and that Bertrand was going to be her love interest. The story did not disappoint, and I finally understood why Stephaine was so insecure and what prompted her to be so hateful to Bertrand. I will admit that I would have liked more personal interaction between Stephaine and Bertrand and less family interaction, I do enjoy learning updates about previous couples, but this was almost too much. Overall, it was a gentle romance between two people with issues in their childhoods that have shaped them and at times held them back, who finally let go of the past to seize their future happiness. This is the sixth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone as the author supplies ample backstory.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a DRC/ALC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

 

Remember That Day by Mary Balogh

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Series Crossover, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Remember That Day (A Ravenswood Novel)Remember That Day by Mary Balogh

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Ravenswood #5

Release Date: January 6, 2026

While visiting London with her adopted father, Winifred “Winnie” Cunningham, she attends the Trooping the Colour parade for the King’s birthday with her “uncle” Bertrand, the Viscount Watley and her friend Owen Ware, the youngest brother of the Earl of Stratton (and the man she secretly hopes to marry). She is introduced to his older brother; Col. Nicholas Ware and she is shocked at the instant attraction she feels to the man. But they clash almost immediately when she practically insults him by saying being a soldier is the same as being a murderer. She is mortified by her actions and tries to make amends by agreeing to grant him a dance at the upcoming ball. But after an uncomfortable interaction at the ball, where she learns he is courting the beautiful and poised Miss Grace Haviland, she has to remind herself that they have nothing in common and she wants to marry his brother. But when the Earl invites her family to visit Ravenswood and to stay for the village fete, she realizes her feelings for Nick are deeper than she thought and it is hopeless as they are both almost betrothed to others. So why can’t she stop wanting what she knows she could never have?

Nicholas “Nick” Ware has decided at the ripe old age of 34, it is time for him to marry, and he has decided that the lovely daughter of his commanding officer is the perfect choice for a bride. He isn’t in love with her, but she will be a wonderful wife and mother. He asks his brother to invite her and her parents to Ravenswood for the fete and plans to propose to her and make the announcement at the ball. But he finds himself drawn to Winnie, which is ridiculous, she is much too young for him, has no connections, isn’t a beauty and she dislikes him, besides he is almost betrothed. So why can’t he shake the feeling that he is making a huge mistake?

In this installment of the Ravenswood series, the author treats readers to a crossover story, Nicholas from the Ravenswood series and Winifred from the Westcott series. I enjoyed this gentle romance, but having read the other books in both series, I will agree with other reviewers that noted that there was a lot of repetition and the story did move slowly. I appreciate that the author was trying to give the reader plenty of backstory, but I think it was a little much, especially for those who have read the previous books. I loved Nick and was happy that he found his HEA, but I found Winnie a bit harder to like at first, she is abrasive and borders on rude, but she does have a good heart and is loyal to her family, so in the end, she won me over. I can’t say when these two fell in love, but by the end of the book, I did believe they were perfect for each other. Overall, this was a good story, but not my favorite of the series. This is the fifth book in the Ravenswood series, but the author gives more than enough backstory to read this book as a standalone.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *