Slightly Tempted

Bedwyn Saga Series, Book 4

By: Mary Balogh

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 11 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Young. Ravishing. Exquisitely marriageable. From the moment he spies Lady Morgan Bedwyn across the glittering ballroom, Gervase Ashford, Earl of Rosthorn, knows he has found the perfect instrument of his revenge. But wedlock is not on the mind of the continent's most notorious rake. Nor is it of interest to the fiercely independent Lady Morgan herself...until one night of shocking intimacy erupts in a scandal that could make Gervase's vengeance all the sweeter. There is only one thing standing in his way: Morgan, who has achieved the impossible - she's melted his coolly guarded heart. For Gervase, only the marriage bed will do, but Morgan simply will not have him. Thus begins a sizzling courtship where two wary hearts are about to be undone by the most scandalous passion of all: glorious, all-consuming love. Contains mature themes.

©2004 Mary Balogh (P)2017 Tantor

Another good story!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would recommend any Mary Balogh book as I have never read or listened to one I haven't thoroughly enjoyed so far.

Any additional comments?

I was so excited to listen to the next in this series and it was very much worth the wait. I have been following this family through each finding their true love and have enjoyed each one. I am giving this 4 stars because some of the actions on both main character parts seemed out of place at times and not what their personalities, according to their descriptions, would do or react to. I did love listening to it though and feel 4 stars carries an "I loved it" sense but not over the top LOVED it, as I did with the previous stories in this series. Still, I recommend it and will listen to this series again.

What is not to enjoy?

Mary Balogh creates such detailed worlds that I start each book knowing I will be delighted and irritated and happy and sappy and heartbroken and have I forgotten any adjectives? This fourth book has Lady Morgan Bedwyn on stage (though eventually the entire family is again involved - thank you). In Brussels just before Napolean's second attempt at world domination, she meets Gervase Ashford, a top-lofty rake. No more plot spoilers here except to note this is one tough HEA and one worth the effort. (I note here, when I wanted to scold and shake my finger, I reminded myself Morgan was an 18-year-old daughter of a duke - naive and pampered - so I pulled away and stopped trying to direct the story). And high praise, again, for Rosalyn Landor as narrator - simply wonderful.

Not as compelling

This book was not as compelling to me as the other Bedwyn books. The narrator saved it.

Covers A Lot of Ground

This must have been a tricky book to write. Not only does it span the timeline of events surrounding the battle at Waterloo, it also examines different cultures, as well as many conflicting emotions, behaviors and consequences.

To keep the reader up to speed, and straightened out, probably wasn’t easy to do. It’s probably the most significant book of the series so far. Nothing earth shaking or life changing, but it is a good listen that prompted me to think about certain things to the point of research.

I believe the characters in this one were a vehicle for commentary, and the book wasn’t not so much about the characters themselves.

Balogh is a good storyteller. I could do without the spicier scenes in order focus on the story itself. Sex is sex. It’s always going to happen. Always going to happen in much the same way. I’d prefer not to hear about the “liquid” sounds, thank you very much. Including that kind of detail, against the backdrop of such historical importance, is beneath both the author and listener.

best one yet

fabulous twist on the usual plots of these sorts of romances. I read a lot of romance and they can get a little repetitive, but the adventure in this one was spectacular.

Can’t get enough!

I just can’t get enough of the combination of Mary Balogh’s stories as told by Rosalyn Landor. I think there’s only one more book after this one and I will sorely miss all of the characters. After reading the first book I was hooked and now I feel like I know them thoroughly! I will definitely recommend this series to my friends!

Oh my heart

I have laughed, cried, been annoyed and even angry!!! But now at the end of the story in disbelief that you would end it that way!!!

Great book!

Mary Balogh is one of my favorite authors! I have loved all of the books I've read by her, and this book is no exception.

Balogh's Best Bedwyn Book!

Where does Slightly Tempted rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of my favorites for the Historical Romance genre.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lady Morgan. Her growth and development as a character comes about nicely over the course of the book without her ever losing her likability or the quintessential elements that make up her character.

What about Rosalyn Landor’s performance did you like?

She did a superb job with accents and character differentiation as well as portraying just the right amount of emotion at just the right times.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Absolutely.

Any additional comments?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I liked the multi-faceted nature of the main characters so that neither was too pristine or too roguish at any particular point. There were nuances throughout the book that added to the characterization of the main characters, which made them more appealing and captivating (e.g., Gervase's dedicated use of his nickname for Morgan). I also really took enjoyment in the way Morgan dealt with Gervase's revenge, and this made the romance between them more sizzling and sinful. Mary Balogh wove in the minor characters, including other Bedwyns, just right without detracting from the main characters' storyline. Definitely recommend this book for someone looking for a historical romance.

Great!

I liked Morgan throughout the story, except for at the end! I'm glad she finally realized that what she advised Gervais to do ( forgive his dead father) and the girls (Maryann and Gervais' girl cousin) to do, was exactly what she WASN'T doing! Gervais' had tested her terribly at first, to get even with Morgan's brother. But I truly know that since he saw what she did at Waterloo, he changed, and began really liking her for herself. I'm glad they didn't lose out on the best thing to happen to both of them!