ABOUT THE BOOK:
Humphrey Westcott, Earl of Riverdale, has died, leaving behind a fortune that will forever alter the lives of everyone in his family—including the daughter no one knew he had...
Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage in Bath knowing nothing of the family she came from. Now she discovers that the late Earl of Riverdale was her father and that she has inherited his fortune. She is also overjoyed to learn she has siblings. However, they want nothing to do with her or her attempts to share her new wealth. But the new earl’s guardian is interested in Anna…
Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby, keeps others at a distance. Yet something prompts him to aid Anna in her transition from orphan to lady. As London society and her newfound relatives threaten to overwhelm Anna, Avery steps in to rescue her and finds himself vulnerable to feelings and desires he has hidden so well and for so long.
READ AN EXCERPT:
MY REVIEW:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Someone to Love by Mary Balogh is a 2016 Signet publication.
I loved the Survivor Club series, but of course all good things must come to an end. So, I began to eagerly anticipate the start of a fresh series, and couldn’t wait to dive into Westcott number one.
Anna Snow grew up in an orphanage, but has been anonymously supported by someone. She became a teacher and settled into a life of peace and relative contentment, until, she receives a summons, and at long last finds out who her parents were. It would seem her birth was legitimate, and her father, who is now deceased, was a bigamist, meaning his second marriage was never legal and his other children are illegitimate, which means Anna is his sole heir.
So, overnight Anna becomes an heiress, with a vast fortune, and is totally overwhelmed by the reversal and feels awful about her misplaced half siblings, who decide to keep their distance from her.
Taking pity on Anna, Avery Archer, the Duke of Nertherby, takes it upon himself to help Anna make the necessary adjustments to fulfill her obligations and live within society proper. In the process, he is stunned to discover he actually LIKES Anna as a person, is drawn to her in a way that goes beyond physical attraction.
But, those closest to Avery wonder if Anna is a good match for him. Will he become bored with Anna, or can their love grow deeper once the ‘honeymoon’ phase is over?
As always, Mary Balogh creates wonderful characters and addresses real life relationship problems, which proves it’s not always hearts and flowers and couples must face and overcome highs and low for the relationship to grow.
I love the maturity of her characters, and the way she provides just the right amount of angst and conflict and give them a chance to grow and learn.
Anna is a character that shows real fortitude as she is swiftly whisked away into a world she struggled to adapt to. Her humble attitude is admirable as she hopes to eventually return to her old life, and her concern for her extended family is a nice touch. Although, while her character was developed, she I thought she could use a few moments of fire or passion, which she seemed to lack, in my opinion. She wasn't terribly exciting, but her story was very touching and heartwarming, all the same.
Avery, on the other hand, is a very unique hero. He’s very closed off, has unconventional looks, and keeps things pretty close to the vest. Anna comes along and leaves him totally flummoxed, as to why he’s so smitten by her. I actually enjoyed his flamboyance and dialogue, and his occasionally stern countenance, which made him very interesting, and was highlight of whole story, for me.
The story does have a few problems, such as the introduction of too many characters, which slowed down the rhythm and flow, and could be confusing at times. While I enjoyed learning more about Avery’s deepest secrets, his story was too complex to have been tacked on in such a hurried fashion in the last chapters of the book.
Other than that, I am pleased, overall, with this first installment in the Balogh’s new series and will definitely be continuing on with the series.
GET YOUR COPY HERE:
https://www.amazon.com/Someone-Love-Westcott-Novel-Balogh-ebook/dp/B01BK0SQ36/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/someone-to-love-mary-balogh/1123638806
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Balogh started writing in the evenings as a hobby. Her first book, a Regency love story, was published in 1985 as A Masked Deception under her married name. In 1988, she retired from teaching after 20 years to pursue her dream to write full-time. She has written more than seventy novels and almost thirty novellas since then, including the New York Times bestselling 'Slightly' sextet and 'Simply' quartet. She has won numerous awards, including Bestselling Historical of the Year from the Borders Group, and her novel Simply Magic was a finalist in the Quill Awards. She has won seven Waldenbooks Awards and two B. Dalton Awards for her bestselling novels, as well as a Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award.