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Fiction. Romance. Historical Fiction. HTML:BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Mary Balogh's The Secret Mistress. Set against the seductive backdrop of Regency England, New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh�s latest novel sweeps us into the sensual, enthralling world of an elite academy for young ladies. Here, amid music lessons and garden parties, whispered confessions and secret yearnings, one of the school�s teachers�headmistress Claudia Martin�will find her well-ordered world jolted by love when she meets a man who would make the perfect husband�for somebody else. Tall, dark, and exquisitely sensual, he is the epitome of male perfection. Not that Claudia Martin is looking for a lover. Or a husband. As owner and headmistress of Miss Martin�s School for Girls in Bath, she long ago resigned herself to a life without love. Until Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough, arrives unannounced and tempts her to toss away a lifetime of propriety for an affair that can only lead to ruin. Joseph has his own reasons for seeking Claudia out. Instantly, irresistibly attracted to the dedicated teacher, he embarks on a plan of seduction that leaves them both yearning for more. But as heir to a prestigious dukedom, Joseph is expected to carry on his family�s legacy. And Claudia knows she has no place in his world. Now that world is about to be rocked by scandal. An arranged marriage, a secret that will shock the ton, and a man from Claudia�s past conspire to drive the lovers apart. But Joseph is determined to make Claudia his at any cost. Even if that means defying convention and breaking every rule for a love that is everything he has ever wanted�a love that is perfection itself�.… (more)
User reviews
This is the story of Claudia Martin, school matron. Claudia doesn't like aristocrats, the ton, and men in general. She was terribly hurt as a young woman and vowed to rely only on herself while making a
Joseph is finally ready and willing to take a bride from amongst the ton. He's in his mid-30s and needs to secure the succession. He wants to be happy and fulfilled in his marriage. He is also the loving father of an illegitimate blind girl, Lizzie.
The actions and decisions these two make and their reasons for doing so will capture your heart early on and not let go until long after you finish the book. This is a story of love, society, rules, and courage. I enjoyed it immensely.
Claudia Martin, owner and headmistress of a girl’s school ruined and left with a broken heart nearly twenty years ago has given up hope of marriage and a family. Her childhood sweetheart declared that she was not good enough for him and broke their engagement when he
The best thing about reading a Mary Balogh romance is one not only reads about love, one feels love. {“Then I would love them too,” Claudia said, her cheeks an interesting shade of pink. “Just as dearly. Not more so, not less. Love does not have to be portioned out, Lizzie. It is the one thing that never diminishes when one gives it away. Indeed, it only grows.”}
This is the final installment in Balogh's Simply series
Claudia does not trust titled gentleman, especially Dukes so when the future Duke of Anburey, Joseph,
We find out why she does not trust Dukes and it has to do with Charlie, the Duke of McLeith who she had loved and 17 then had her heart broken by him because all of sudden she was not good enough for a Duke. Her relationship with Joseph develops slowly, he introduces her to his illegitimate blind daughter Lizzie, with thoughts that Claudia might be able to take her in at her school. At the same time Joseph must find a wife so it is put to him by his father to marry a Miss Hunt – he is in a bit of turmoil as he finds himself falling in love with Claudia and at the same time trying to convince himself that he needs to find contentment with Miss Hunt, it does not quite work.
Needless to say things do not go well with Miss Hunt and he ends up with Claudia.
I now need to go back and read the earlier books in the Simply Quartet and the books in the Bedwyn Series as well – a lot of the Bedwyn’s are featured in this book too.
Simply Perfect is the ending story of how Claudia Martin finds love with Joseph, Marquess Attingsborough.
I totally enjoyed all of the Slightly/Simply series. Mary Balogh creates a special world and
Though from watching an episode of "Who do you Think you are", I know that blindness was often a symptom of congenital syphilis which kinda
However the couple were good, I liked them, I liked the relationship, I liked how they had to come to terms with their past and deal with some of their issues before becoming a full couple, the attraction was there from the start but they both had to acknowledge it and deal with other people and their relationship with them.
I could see the reality of the period being echoed, but I let it slide for the most part. I enjoyed it overall and liked the main characters for the most part.
Claudia is the last unmarried member of the group of four friends who worked side-by-side to educate the girls at Miss Martin’s School. She, of course, is the one who started it all years ago. As the daughter of a country gentleman, she didn’t have a lot of options open to her besides marriage, so following a youthful heartbreak that left her soured on love, she took up the profession of teaching and became governess to a young Freya Bedwyn, who was apparently a brat back then. Between Freya and her oldest brother and guardian Wolfric, the Bedwyn clan got on Claudia’s last nerve, sending her marching off down the driveway with her dignity barely intact. From there, she started her school where she’s become the beloved headmistress to both students and teachers alike. When Joseph shows up offering his carriage and an escort, she really wants to say no. After two bad experiences with dukes, she’s not impressed with the aristocracy, but knowing it would be rude to refuse, she acquiesces. As they get to know one another during the trip and at the various functions they attend later, Claudia soon discovers that Joseph is everything she could hope for in a man, but he’s also someone with many obligations – to his daughter, to his family, to his title, and to the woman he’s all but betrothed to. However, in spite of all that, as well as the very real probability that she’ll walk away with another broken heart, she can’t help being drawn to him and savoring their stolen moments together.
At thirty-five, Claudia is a firmly on the shelf spinster who definitely has the crisp, matronly veneer of a schoolteacher. She didn’t get where she is without a backbone of steel, but underneath her prim, proper exterior beats a kind, passionate heart. She begins the story pretty prickly toward Joseph and thinking some rather uncharitable things about him, although I have to give her credit for being self-aware enough to realize that she’s being unfair to him. Gradually, though, she comes to see him in a different light, and from there, things begin warming up between them. I like that she’s a very loving and giving person, first toward her girls and fellow teachers, then toward Joseph and Lizzie. She’s willing to risk heartbreak for the perfect memory of being with him even if it’s only for a short time. I was perhaps ever so slightly frustrated with her when the way seemed to finally clear for an HEA, but she was still making excuses for why it wouldn’t work, although I did understand that she had obligations of her own and that it was going to be a huge adjustment for her. I loved what she decided to do at the end, though, and how she didn’t give up her independent streak or her love of teaching.
As a duke in waiting, Joseph is a somewhat typical aristocrat in that he understands his obligations to the title, and due to his father’s questionable health, he’s being pressured to find a wife soon. His father and the father of a young aristocratic woman have basically already made the deal and him actually offering for her hand is now little more than a formality. She happens to be none other than Portia, who was attached to Lucius back in the first book of the series, Simply Unforgettable, and now has her sights set on Joseph. The only problem is that while she’s perfect for him on paper, she lacks any kind of passion or even kindness in her heart, so he fears that theirs will likely be a loveless marriage. This might not be a problem for many members of the ton who would simply take a mistress to satisfy those needs, but Joseph is a man who believes in monogamous relationships even if that relationship is only with a mistress, much less with a wife, which is one thing about him that utterly endeared me. The other is that’s he’s a doting father to his illegitimate daughter, Lizzie, who lost her mother – his longtime mistress – the year before. He’s been a loving, involved parent in her life since the day she was born and wants the best for her in everything, which is why he asks Claudia if she’d be willing to admit Lizzie to her school despite the little girl’s disability. He’d already been attracted to Claudia anyway, but seeing her interact with his beloved daughter only deepens his feelings for her. Joseph would also like nothing more than to shout it from the rooftops that Lizzie is his, so he’s frustrated by the fact that titled gentlemen simply can’t acknowledge their by-blows and that she’ll always come second to his legitimate family. I really like how all this worked out and admired Joseph, not only for being a responsible father, but also for not being ashamed of his child in spite of the circumstances of her birth and her not being perfect. A part of me wanted him to just kick Portia to the curb for her snotty behavior, but I also understood that having things play out the way they did was more historically accurate. In any case, I did fall for Joseph and thought he was a wonderful hero.
Simply Perfect boasts a huge cast of supporting characters, so many, in fact, that I had a hard time keeping them all straight and more or less had to give up. I admit that it might have been easier if I’d read the Bedwyn Saga first, because most of these characters were introduced in those books. Joseph’s cousin, Neville, the only one who knows about Lizzie, and his wife, Lily, who had their story told in the Bedwyn prequel, One Night for Love, support Joseph. Then there’s Kit and Lauren from A Summer to Remember. Many of the Bedwyns are present as well, along with their families, including Wulfric and Christine (Slightly Dangerous), Freya and Joshua (Slightly Scandalous), and Morgan and Gervase (Slightly Tempted). Claudia finally gets a chance to bury the hatchet with Wulfric and Freya. Neville’s sister, Gwen, whose story is told in The Proposal, Book #1 of the Survivor’s Club series, puts in several appearances. There is also a huge anniversary party for the Earl and Countess of Redfield who I feel certain were introduced somewhere in these books as well. And of course, all of Claudia’s friends including Lucius and Frances (Simply Unforgettable), Sydnam and Anne (Simply Love), and Peter and Susanna (Simply Magic) reunite to support Claudia. If only I’d read the Bedwyn books, I probably could have said that this was the perfect wrap-up to both series because of all the familiar faces. As is, though, I’m feeling inspired to at some point do just that and then re-read the Simply Quartet just to get the full impact.
Overall, Simply Perfect was a near-perfect story that was a pleasure to read. It was sweet and emotional, giving me all the feels I expect from a romance. Joseph and Claudia are clearly made for one another and the thought that they were very nearly kept apart simply because of their differing social backgrounds was nearly infuriating, but at the same time kept me reading to see just how they were finally going to get their HEA. Claudia’s mysterious benefactor is also revealed and it was exactly who I’d been suspecting. Other than the few minor things I’ve already mentioned the only reason I dropped a half star is because this is a very slow burning story. It took until probably halfway into it before Joseph and Claudia share their first kiss and quite a bit farther before they make love for the first time. Even then, it seems like they’re destined to be heartbroken for the rest of their lives until fate intervenes and helps push things along. Because of how long it takes for things to happen, the pacing occasionally felt a bit too slow. But otherwise, this was a lovely story that I very much enjoyed. Now I look forward to going backwards to learn all about the other interesting characters I was introduced to in this series and to read about all of their HEA endings, too.
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Claudia Martin, owner and headmistress of a girls' school in Bath, is planning a journey to London to escort two of her charity girls to their new employment. She reluctantly accepts the escort of Joseph, Marquess of Attingsborough. She meets him again in London and becomes involved in the complexities of his life. She also meets someone from her long-ago past, and this confirmed spinster suddenly finds herself unexpectedly drawn to two men and having to face some difficult choices.